BY EBUN SESSOU

Felix was 13 when he started his life at the Tejuosho market about 20 years ago when he was learning and assisting his elder brother to sell fairly used clothes. He was born into a polygamous family. His mother was the last wife in his father’s house while he was the first child of his mother.

At home, he was able to sponsor himself to secondary school and earned a secondary school leaving certificate to himself. At least, he could boast of having a little education suitable for his kind of person. He was also able to help his poor parents by assisting his younger sisters financially.

His uncle brought him to Lagos from Anambra so that they could help him in his business.

Unfortunately, his father died because of his financial incapability while his mother is now old and weak, making him the bread winner of the family.

He grew up knowing how to buy and sell fairly used clothes from his elder brother who has also relocated to Lagos to make ends meet.

Felix is now in Abia State University, a 200 level student. Unfortunately, he is one of the victims of the just demolished railway market at Yaba where he sold fairly used clothes of different grades for ladies.

“I started my life here since my secondary school days. In those days, I used to assist my elder brother.Then, railway market was an industrial market, especially for the people in Lagos State and the government in general. The market was meant to assist the poor and less privileged.

“A lot of lives have been restored here, especially youths who are in school. They hustle and earn a living for themselves while some young boys outside Nigeria also come here for businesses. They also use this place to care of their parents because there is no job for the youth.

“For instance, someone who earns N13, 000 from his white collar job will not be able to sustain his life. This is not so if you are in business.

“But right now, the story is different. Lagos State government has demolished the same market that provides our daily bread”, Felix cried.

Lamenting the extent of damage caused by the demolished market, Felix said this is the third time that the State government demolished this particular market.

“On the day this particular incident took place, I heard that there was a conflict between the marketers and the KAI officials. I heard that the KAI officials were trying to force one of the boys (marketers), who was selling curtains opposite the market and as they were forcing him into the Black Maria, he escaped and in the process, he was knocked down by a vehicle and he died.

“There was no remorse from the men . Rather, they (KAI officials) were trying to get more people into their custody. So the people confronted them. And the next day, they brought their caterpillar and demolished the market. Most people do not have anywhere to go to.

“The State government has been promising us that the market would be opened, yet it is not open. We are hoping that one day, the market will be opened. If the State government wants to close down railway market, it should provide a better place for us instead of giving us fake hopes.

“We know that, trading on the railway is illegal but the situation in the country does not give any alternative. And the truth is that Lagos State government wouldn’t deny that it doesn’t know about the market because we have a union and there are people in-charge. These people are known by both local and State governments. It might be illegal to sell goods here but they collect taxes from us. There is no market on the railway track.”

Counting the number of people that trade in the market, he said, “It is a large market and it is one of the busiest markets in Lagos State. And one of the recommended markets as long as fairly used goods are concerned within and outside Nigeria. It is a market known for fairly used goods in West Africa.

“I have been here for 20 years. Now that the place is pulled down, we are begging the government to help us, we have suffered so much. They should build the market elsewhere as they cannot just stop fairly used goods because it is for the less privileged. Everybody cannot wear new clothes and therefore such a person will go for an affordable fairly used goods.

The new Tejuosho market

“For instance, an second hand clothes could be sold for N300 while the new ones range between N1, 500 and above. This simply means that an individual collecting N13, 000 might be able to afford it. So, they should open the market for us elsewhere. It is unfair to just wipe out the market. People should be considered. There are so many of us who have made an advance payment of two to three years before the demolition.

“The State government should just build a convenient place for people that will not be a target for demolition. The new Tejuosho market is there and with the situation on ground, I don’t think it is built for the masses. So, we are calling on the government to build a place that is people- oriented that will be peaceful for the people.

Right now, lots of people have been moving from one place to the other. There is no provision whatsoever for anybody. Some people have even moved to Oshodi on their own. And it is unfortunate, there is no market that can be compared to what is obtainable here in Yaba. How can we afford the new Tejuosho market that goes for N3m, N4m, N5m or N6m. The new Tejuosho market is for the rich people in the state and not those who are begging for daily bread and I believe that market is not meant for fairly used goods.

“Right now, men in uniform have taken over railway market arresting people illegally, “ he added.

Another trader who has spent three years in the railway market said, “since three months that the market has been demolished, there is no provision for us to go elsewhere, and because of the new Tejuosho market, there is no response from the government. Some people have moved to Oshodi on their own. They said, there is one mami plaza that is on rent, although, I don’t know the exact amount that a shop goes for.

“In the past whenever demolition occured, it only last- ed for a couple of weeks after which the situation would return to normalcy. But this particular one is out of control”.

Speaking on what the railway market used to be in the past, he said, “the market has been a life- saving place, especially for people who do not have a means of livelihood. This is a place where one comes out to have his daily bread. It has been a source of help to the people, including the buyers because it is one of the popular markets where any fairly used materials/ products can be located.

“Now that the whole place is demolished, it is very bad because everybody is roaming around on the street without knowing what to do. Some have taken to their heels while others squat with their friends to sell their goods.

“I am a student and I am into this business just to cater for myself and my education.”

A shoes seller also gave an account of how the demolished market has caused him so much pain. “Right now many people have resorted to going back to village because they cannot cope with life anymore while others who are still in Lagos have joined bad gangs. Before now, people were taking care of themselves without any iota of evil in our minds. We were focusing on our lives but right now, life has just crumbled, everything is hard. We are just here hoping that government will help us. Let everything come down so that people’s lives will be brought back.

“This is a place where lots of people come to trade- from Port Harcourt, Calabar, Eastern part of the country, Togo, Cotonou and all over Africa to trade. But now things have changed.

“Demand had dropped and nobody can afford to rent the shop at the new Tejuosho market. So, life has been messed up.”

Geoffrey, a sports-wear seller, said, “I was about building my house in the village when I was selling wears at the then Tejuosho market but I can’t continue it because of the present situation. I now squat with my friend in his shop just to make ends meet. I have been squatting with my friend since 2007.

“My business has dropped and right now, my family and I have been living by the grace of God. This market is a total failure for the people of Lagos State. It is wrong to treat people like nothing. Imagine government telling us to go to trade-fair because they cannot provide a better alternative. If I had enough, I wouldn’t stay back in Lagos. I would have gone back to my village to relax.

“Each shop at the new Tejuosho market goes for N6.5m for 25 years lease after which the payment will be renewed again.

“But before the fire outbreak, I was selling my goods in a kick-lamp which I got through a local government at the rate of N45, 000 in year 2000. After the demolition, they promised to bring it back and right now, we are yet to receive any of their promises. Rather, they said each shop at the new Tejuosho goes for N6.5 m while kick-lamp goes for N800, 000 for lease of 25 years. This is totally different from the state government’s promises.

“For me, I believe the masses are the scapegoats. Government is full of hopeless promises. They have failed the people, we don’t have any future in this market. I haven’t seen where people will be asked to pay the sum of N6.5m for a lease of 25 years. Even if the person dies, the money cannot be refunded. What we heard was that the State government owes Tejusoho market.

“The truth is that the State government has failed its masses because there is no consideration in whatever it does. I could remember that when the market got burnt, people were instructed to come to Alausa for some compensations, yet it was given to some set of persons while others were sidelined. Lots of people have been complaining about the situation of things in Lagos.”

For Kenneth, who has been into the clothing business for the past eight years, “Government promises to rebuild a better place for Yaba marketers but instead, they dismissed many people. Some went to Oshodi, mami plaza and that is how people scattered abroad.

“Many of the people who were at Tejuosho market are now at Opopo, railway, but now, the same government has dismissed people on the railway. Some still come into Opopo but things are difficult. The population is enormous and that is why we are begging the governor to come to our rescue.

“With what is on ground at the new Tejuosho market, it is obvious that the shops are not for the common man. We are therefore calling on the State government to open the railway market at least for people to get their daily bread even as the festive period is approaching. I was at Tejuosho market before the demolition, I had two shops there but right now, I don’t have anything.

“For me, life has been shattered for myself and family, we are living by the grace of God. I am looking for someone who can accommodate me in his shop. My family has been living feeding from hands to mouths, “ he added

Godwin sold shoes at Oshodi before his shop was demolished. He then relocated to Yaba market. Right now, the same place he was selling his shoes has been demolished.

“I have a wife who is a nurse and two kids, the oldest is in primary one while the youngest in is nursery three. I have been feeding them by the grace of God. I have been managing my life since the incident. The truth is that people do not have the fear of God. And they go extra mile to inflict pain on others.”

Luke Obinozie is one of the leaders in Yaba market who has been there since 1989. “We have been facing lots of challenges from the market association, the local government (Mainland) local government.

“They have been deceiving us with all sorts of payments which we have no choice than to pay. Then, some group of people will come again and impose themselves on us that they are unions. They are without authentication of authority. Before the demolition, a particular person by the name JJ Jimoh and his association were collecting money from people without receipt or any form of record.

“They used force to extort money from people. There was a time they collected N3000 each from people. They said the form was to protect the market. They collected the money from more than 5000 people. We couldn’t trace the address on the receipt. Even when we reported at the Police station, there was no further investigation.

“After two weeks, the market was destroyed. The excuse we were given was that government wanted to beautify the place. We thought that they were saying the truth. After a while, they came to collect another N2, 100 only. They said they were not going to build wooden structure but all they could do was to built another wooden structure. We were detained and molested for trying to fight for ourselves. After the structure was demolished, they went and built wooden structure and they collected N56, 000 naira from individuals.”