Displaced 7-Up traders cry for space

By Bose Adelaja

Scores of petty traders at Seven-Up Bus-stop, in Ikeja area of Lagos whose shops were recently razed are yet to find convenient spaces to continue their businesses.

The stalls were gutted some days ago by an inferno which started in the middle of the night after the traders have gone to their respective homes.

Until the inferno that consumed goods and property in the mini-market, the place used to be a major hub for workers of Seven Up Bottling Company as well as numerous employees from other companies in the Motorways Centre.

The displaced traders said they feel dislocated by the incident as relocation has been very difficult in the area. ‘’We have tried our best to relocate but this has been very difficult to do. Some of us have remained at home as we don’t want to contravene any law by selling on the road. Many Lagos landlords are greedy and petty traders like us cannot cope with their terms and conditions,’‘ they said.

According to them, they were awaiting further directives from the Federal Road Safety Corps who leased the place to them, adding that the situation had affected their source of livelihood.

Spokesperson for the traders who simply gave her name as Mama Ishmail said the incident happened on a day many of the stalls were stocked with goods. ‘’Many of us have just came back from a business trip when the incident took place. We thank God that no life was lost but the fire stared in the middle of the night when we have all closed shop and gone home. It was a rude shock to us when we got to the scene the following day which was market sanitation day in Lagos State. We were surprised to see charred remains of our goods which have been consumed by the inferno. But we are hopeful the landlord will act fast about the market space,’‘ she said.