Traders count losses as Niger demolishes structures at Gwari market

Petty Traders at the popular Minna Gwari Market in Niger State are counting their losses following the demolition of illegal structures by the Niger State Urban Development Board (NSUDB) to give way for expansion of township roads under the government’s urban renewal project.

City & Crime reports that dozens of petty traders, whose shops and stands were erected by the roadside, were affected.  The affected traders decry the loss of their places of business and livelihoods.

A butcher, Bashir Ibrahim, told City & Crime that although they were staying illegally, they were paying revenue to the Chanchaga LGA.

He said he had been surviving with his family and siblings from the business, and called on the state government to come to their aid.

Mrs Evelyn Amasiatu, a vegetables seller, ground nuts and palm oil in the market, said they were not given notice to leave the area.

• ASUU condemns dismissal of 120 academics over strike participation
• BUA donates N2bn to Borno flood victims

“I did not receive any quit notice. I would have relocated. And the government called our staying here illegal but they are collecting revenue from us. At least, the government should support us because we are just looking for what to eat. We have children to take care of,” she said.

Another trader, Babangida Danladi, who sells onion, palm oil, groundnut oil, garri and other foodstuffs, said before he could come out in the morning, his shop was already demolished, adding that he lost his goods worth millions of naira.

“I was called in the morning that government officials were demolishing our shops. Before I could arrive, my shop was already down. Some things that I kept including some foodstuff were not found,” he explained.

 When contacted, the General Manager, Niger State Urban Development Board, Arch. Bako Ismail Mohammed, said all the owners of the affected structures were issued quit notice over the past three months, but they refused to comply.

“Even before the ongoing road construction projects in Minna, Unity Bank Road which extends to Gwari Market and UK Bello Arts Theatre, had been very busy and we have a lot of illegal structures. This necessitates the clearing of these illegal structures to have free flow of traffic. 

“A new market has been built and they have refused to relocate. So, their operation here is illegal. We have abundant space in the new market for them to occupy.”

City & Crime reports that the demolition, which started from Makera Junction to the Rail line within the Gwari Market, affected dozens of shops.