Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Agency ( KAPSUDA) has commenced the demolition of the popular Kasuwar Barci Market in Tudun Wada Kaduna.
Arewa Trust weekly gathered that the demolition began at the wee hours of Tuesday when officials of the agency, accompanied by heavily armed security personnel stormed the market.
It was gathered that more than 10 shops were demolished during the operation as a warning to some of the traders who are yet to remove their belongings.
Our reporter, who visited the market around 6: pm on Tuesday, reports that the traders and youths are now completing the demolition by removing iron rods and other important properties like zinc, from their shops.
Malam Nasiru, a provision seller, told Arewa Trust Weekly that Kasuwar Barci was no more as virtually all shops have been pulled down.
“Our popular market is no more because they have already commenced demolition since early morning but now traders are completing the demolition to remove some of their properties,” he said.
Another trader, Ya Alhaji, also said, “we have removed everything from the shops, doors, windows, we pray for the best in future,” he said.
It was further observed that several youths have converged at the market trying to remove some building materials from the demolished buildings.
Traders had started moving out of the market on Monday following a three-day quit noticed served on them by KASUPDA.
Our reporter, who visited the market on Monday, observed that many had already removed doors and windows and other important properties and took them home while others rented shops at nearby plazas.
A tailor Sani Mohammed said many traders left their shops without knowing where to go.
“We all parked our goods and left because nobody knows the government’s agenda or when they will demolish the market,” he said.
Another trader Ustaz Aminu said: “What the government did to us was not fair because we are ordinary citizens working hard to feed our families but now they asked us to vacate the shops or face demolition without giving us an alternative,” he said.
Arewa Trust weekly gathered on Monday evening that the market traders’ union under the chairman, Alhaji Haruna Dabai, had met with the Market Development and Management Company and KASUPDA to find a solution to the issue.
The chairman told our reporter that they pleaded with the authorities to allow them to provide a workable solution that will ease the difficulties traders found themselves in.
“ They agreed that we should go and come up with a workable plan if it’s okay with them they will allow us more time and we are thinking of coming up with a plan to see if the work can be done in phases. This we believe will ease the difficulties we found ourselves now,” he said.
He said they did not ask for an extension of the quit notice given to them during the meeting.
Nuhu Garba Danayamaka Public Relations officer KASUPDA confirmed to Arewa Trust Weekly that a meeting was held with the market union on Monday.
He explained that the issue of rebuilding markets was not limited to Kasuwar Barci as markets at Sabon Gari and Dan Magaji all in zaria are also affected .
He said the rebuilding of the markets was part of the government’s urban development project which would benefit the traders more.
