15th December, 2010
The management of Aguiyi Ironsi International Trade Centre at the popular Ladipo Market, Mushin, Lagos, Paramo Development Ventures, has appealed to government to reopen the market shut yesterday by the Mushin Local Government due to environmental problems and the lingering crisis rocking the market for the past three years.
P.M. NEWS gathered that due to the crisis, there has been a breakdown of rules and order in the market, making it to be dirty.
It was also learnt that the traders had been warned several times but could not do anything to keep the place tidy, thus, the council authority shut it.
When P.M. NEWS visited yesterday, the gates leading to the market were locked, while security men were stationed in front of the market to prevent traders from entering it.
The closure has led to the managers of the market to step into the matter to sanitise the place.
The managing director, Mr. Ajibade Olajoku, confirmed the closure and absolved the council of any blame.
“Yes, the council wrote to us concerning the poor state of the market before it was shut,†he told P.M. NEWS, adding that since they are the people that have an agreement with Mushin local government concerning the market, he decided to sanitise the place.
Olajoku appealed to the council to reopen the market as soon as possible, saying he has started a meaningful discussion with the traders on the need to keep the place clean always.
As at the time of filing this report, series of meetings were going between Paramo Development Ventures and the traders who were affected by the closure.
Some of the traders appealed to the local government to reopen the market, saying they are willing to comply with its directives.
—Cyriacus Izuekwe
