Traders at the popular Kantin Kwari textile market in Kano State have decried how yet-to-be-identified persons are trying to build a two-block of shops on the market’s biggest motorable entrance.
It was gathered that the blocks, whose foundation laying started around 11pm last Tuesday, were to be built on the popular Layin Ta’anbo, the biggest and only routes for vehicles into the biggest textile market.
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The market management board, which represents the government in the market, has however said the state government is carrying out the project in the best interest of the traders, with a view to modernising their businesses.
But a Kano State High Court has restrained the State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA), the State Bureau for Land Management, from further blocking, erecting or continuing to erect a temporary or permanent structure on any part of Ta’ambu and Bayajidda street of Kantin Kwari market pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice.
The court, presided over by Justice Suleiman Baba Namallam, also restrained the respondents severally or jointly or any person whomsoever from doing or allowing to be done anything that will obstruct or tamper with the applicants’ rights of easement into or out of their landed properties in Ta’ambu and Bayajidda street of Kantin Kwari market, pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice.
The interim order was granted upon an ex-parte application by counsel to the applicants, Barrister Abba Hikima.
The plaintiffs/applicants in the suit are Alhaji Shehu Bukar Makoda, Alhaji Yusuf Alhasan, Alhaji Auwalu Buhari, Alhaji Kabiru Ismaila, Alhaji Salihu Baita and Incorporated Trustees of Kwari Small and Medium Scale Traders Association, Kano.
Also, the defendants/respondents are Raz Construction and Technical Limited, Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) and Kano State Bureau for Land Management.
The court, while adjourning the case to 19th August 2021 for hearing of motion on notice, also ordered all parties in the suit to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice.
Businessmen in the affected area of the market who spoke to Daily Trust Saturday said the perpetrators of the act hired labourers to start the foundation of the building over the night, before the traders demolished it the following morning.
According to the Public Relations Officer of ’Yan Tebura of Layin Ta’anbo in the market, Garba Ibrahim Balo, building the structure on the road will mean no vehicle carrying load can enter the market as all other entrances have been built up already.
This according to him is aside the danger of flooding, inaccessibility when there is fire incidence and congestion, thereby making the business environment unconducive for buyers and traders.
What actually happened?
Balo told to Daily Trust on Sunday that on the fateful Tuesday night, “We closed business for the day and all retired home only to start receiving calls around 11pm that some people were laying foundation in the market. So, we quickly mobilised to the place, even though it was raining.
“The following morning, we didn’t take laws into our hands, but we opened our shops and displayed our wares as usual, before we later demolished the structure,” he said.
Asked whether they have complained to relevant authorities about the issue, the PRO said they have complained to all the relevant bodies, including the leadership of Kano Urban Planning Development Authority (KNUPDA) and Kano Roads and Traffic Agency (KAROTA).
‘Who we suspect’
The traders said they suspect some influential traders among them to be behind the project directly or with their tacit support. Balo said, “We don’t blame anyone else but some three persons on this street. Everybody here knows who they are.”
‘Flooding, congestion, fire outbreak possible repercussions’
The traders noted that if the controversial structure is built on the street, the whole market will automatically lose its biggest entrance, thereby creating more difficulty for traders and visitors or buyers.
Nura Isa, another trader in the area, said “I came here when the foundation digging started. I was here from 11pm till 2am. They have connived with some of our leaders; we saw some of them that day. The KNUPDA MD called us earlier and said they won’t start the project until they settle all of us.”
“Undertaking this project here will finally kill the market, as this is the biggest route to streets like Ibrahimawa, Unity Road, Yan Nono, Usman Jallaba, and several other places.”
“We are appealing that even if government insists on carrying on with this project, it should engage firefighters and environmental experts to come and assess the potential risks, in case there is fire outbreak or flood, but we can’t stop them from doing it.”
“By now, we should be talking of how to expand and decongest our markets and not congesting them with new structures that will only make our already bad situation worse,” added.
‘Potential structure sited on biggest gutter in the market’
The traders also alleged that part of the intended building is to be on the biggest gutter linking other gutters to the market.
According to them, building on it will no doubt lead to flooding in the market as they already battle with rain whenever there is heavy downpour.
“This gutter is over 40 years; it is connected to the other gutters within the market. All the water coming from Ibrahim Taiwo Road, IBB Way and even Kano Railway station pass through it,” explained a shop owner who preferred not to be named.
He added that, “Whenever it rains heavily, those of us who display our wares on benches usually pack up because the rain often reaches out waists. Now, just imagine if a new structure is built on it. Certainly, it will spell doom for the market.”
He then called on the appropriate authorities in the state to intervene so as to save businesses in the market.
According to him, authorities should find ways of decongesting and modernising the markets in the state rather than congesting the already congested international textile market.
Most of the businessmen observed that what is happening in the market is similar to what is happening across other major markets in the state like Kofar Wambai and Yankura markets, where spaces hitherto used by petty traders have been occupied by structures.
They observed that in addition to displacement of small-scale traders to give way for shops, there is a serious danger waiting to happen as a result of congestion in the markets.
They also noted that it is a similar situation at major Eid grounds in the state, where the front parts of the grounds have been given out for construction of shops, a development that has been condemned by several individuals and groups in the state.
Project in traders’ best interest – Market Board MD
But the Managing Director of Kantin Kwari Market Management Board, Alhaji Abba Mohammed Bello, said the state government is the one carrying out the project and its interest is mainly that of the traders.
He said, “The action is in line with the order of the Kano State government that in major markets in the state, the display of wares on wooden benches should be modernised and replaced with metal ones to avert fire incidences, since metals are not destructible by fire.”
“What government is doing there is in no way different from what it did at ’Yan Tebura Mall. They are supposed to be relocated to another place before carrying out the project and then bring them back upon completion.”
“Government has the power to use its land for a project it feels is good for its people, and, I am sure the governor is doing it with pure intention.”
“People should fear God and be constructive in their criticism and never bring politics into this. I want to assure them that we will never do anything that will be counterproductive to them, government must use architects, surveyors and engineers before doing this project.”
“Our major mistake, which we later realised, was starting the project without relocating the traders to other places,” he said.
The MD however said the allegation that vehicles use the area as route into the market is not true, arguing that even its main entrance has already been blocked by the traders.
