Traders storm Lagos Assembly, allege extortion by council agent

Traders of Gatankowa Market in Abule-Egba area of Lagos State on Friday stormed the state’s House of Assembly, complaining of excesses of a contractor employed by the local council to collect market dues.
The traders, who chanted songs and carried placards with various inscriptions, said that the contractor engaged by the Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), was high-handed.
Chief Elvis Eluwa, the Chairman of Gatankowa Textile Traders Welfare Association, who led the group, said the traders could no longer bear the extortion and intimidation of the contractor.
“There are rules governing collections in the market whether tolls, dues or levies. There are dues we pay daily while some are paid yearly but he converted everything to daily, thereby afflicting the traders,’’ he said.
Eluwa also accused the contractor of collecting more than was required from the traders.
He said that the association once complained to the council of the atrocities, which led to the contractor being disengaged before being re-engaged later.
The chairman said the traders were tired of the activities of the contractor and urged the legislators to intervene in the matter.
“It is either we pay to the council directly through our union or let them change this man. We don’t want him,’’ he said.
The Secretary of the union, Mr Daisy Igwe, also said the activities of the consultant had affected the growth of the market.
He called on the House of Assembly to intervene and save the situation.
Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, who addressed the protesters, assured that the House would look into the matter and protect the traders.
Obasa said: “You should be rest assured that you are well protected, we will look at it and get back to you.”
The speaker advised the protesters to bring a copy of their petition addressed to the House.
He said that leaders of all parties involved would be called later when the Assembly resumes sitting on September 7.