Kuje market traders decry delay in compensation for demolished shops

Traders of the Kuje main market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have complained over the delay in paying them compensation for their demolished shops by the authorities of the council during the ongoing modernisation of the market.
Some traders who spoke with our reporter expressed dissatisfaction with the authorities of the council for delaying the compensation.
They said that no proper arrangement has been made by the council authorities to find out those traders whose shops have been demolished and work out a formula for compensating them.
A trader, Malam Suleiman Mohammed said three of his shops were demolished without proper agreement on compensation, adding that the authorities of the council have never invited any of the traders to deliberate on how those affected would be compensated.
“In fact, I have all my papers that were issued to me by the area council land department during the first allocation of shops at the main market. I have two wives and 10 children but I am finding it difficult to cater for them as my only source of income no longer exists,” he said.
Another trader, Mrs. Juliana David, who also said she has two shops that were demolished, added that she was yet to be compensated, and that the price for a new allocation was outrageous.
“The new shops are too expensive for ordinary people as a lock-up shop goes for about N2.5 million while the open shop goes for N1.5 million and the plaza goes for N3.5 million. If you are not rich or have a big business, it will be difficult to acquire these kinds of shops,” she said.
Reacting, the chairman of Kuje Traders Association, Mr Yunusa Isa, appealed to the affected traders to be patient with the management as compensation was done in batches. 
He disclosed that only traders with genuine allocation papers from the Kuje Area Council land department would be considered.
He claimed that consultations and meetings were held with the genuine traders of the market whose shops were demolished.
He said the project was a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement between the Kuje Area Council and Green House Ventures Limited.
“I want to appeal to the affected traders to co-operate with the management in the completion of the market project,” he said.