Apongbon traders protest eviction by Lagos State govt

Dozens of traders evicted from Apongbon after the bridge was gutted by fire, have taken to the streets, appealing to the Federal and Lagos State governments to shelve plans to demolish shops erected at their new location on Lagos Island.

The traders said that displacing them from their new site would further put them in a difficult situation after goods worth millions of naira were destroyed during the fire disaster that gutted over 500 shops under the bridge.

They lamented that any decision to displace them from their new location could further cut their source of income and put everyone of them in additional debt which they may not be able offset easily.

The traders, who assembled for a peaceful protest on Thursday at the entrance of the Lagos House, Ikeja, said that after the fire incident, it has been difficult for them to continue their trade effectively as they do not have any other alternative place than their present location.

They lamented that after they had been evacuated from the market, they relocated to a loop nearby to continue their business in order to cater for their family but they were also driven away by some law enforcement personnel.

Appealing to Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the traders requested that they should be allowed to remain at their new location.

One of the protesters, Iyabo Deborah, said that the Iyaloja General, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, gave her approval for their protest.

She said that the law enforcement personnel who chased them out from under the bridge had threatened to return on Monday to evacuate them from where they are now.

However, neither the governor or his deputy nor any representative of the State House came out to attend to the protesters.