National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
By Abiodun Omotosho
Sympathisers’ and customers to traders at Amu plank market have continued to throng to the market to express their concerns on the huge loss incurred from the fire that gutted the market and virtually destroyed must of the planks.
However, despite the loss in the burnt plank market running into several millions of naira and request to the government to come to their aid, a handful of traders have started to rebuild their burnt shops for fear that their space could taken from them.
It will be recall that the market got burnt around 12am on Saturday morning. Even as all efforts to savage the properties proof abortive as virtually all the planks and other building materials went up in flame.
A visit by nationalwire to the market on Tuesday, showed that many sympathiser had come to sympathize with the leaders of the market.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu even promised not to hijack the market from the trader but promised to develop the market better.
He said ” according to Yoruba adage that says Afin Oba to jo, ewa lo bu kun. Meaning that “a King palace that got burnt will be beautifyied”.
“Let me say it clearly to all traders in this market that, we do not plan to take over this market. We will work with you to see how to re-construct this place, so that business activities can return to the market. There so many families affected by this; we will help them to rebuild their lives.”
According to the Chief Press Secretary to Governor to Sanwo-Olu, He stressed that the magnitude of the destruction left by the inferno brought up the necessity for the Government to collaborate with the traders in providing fire safety facility around the market with the aim to forestall future occurrence. He added that Ministry of Physical Planning would work with the market leaders to rebuild.
“After the completion of recovery process on the fire site, LASEMA and officials of the Ministry of Physical Planning will come back and take full inventory of the various store owners and market leaders. They will discuss lasting solution we can bring about in a market like this,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The Governor directed the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to remove charred materials left on the site free of charge, while urging the crowd at the scene to allow smooth recovery process.
The youth leader in the market, Alhaji Tajudeen Sanni, who spoke on behalf of victims, said goods worth N10 billion were destroyed by the fire. He appreciated the Governor for offering to support to the victims, adding that the assurance by Governor not to take over the market would help victims to fully recover from their losses.
Also, an ardent customer of the market, Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose was also touched by the inferno. He actually came to buy market when he discovered that the market was burnt down totally.
He was led to the leaders of the market and was told the whole story. When the writer of this piece approach him to take a snap picture as a Photojournalist, he shouted at him and sent him away.
He asked in Yoruba ” Iwo nikan lo ma Koko se Photojournalist ni?” Meaning are you the first person to be a Photojournalist? He further asked “Don’t we have access to private life?” He there after left moody as there was nothing to buy.
One of the shop owner, Lukman Amodu Ayinla took the writer to his burnt shop number 73. He lament on how to start all over again. As his machine was being carried away from his shop to be sell as scrap.
He said he was short of words as his machine was burnt beyond recognition. He asked the writer to take the photographs of himself on the floor of his shop and send to him via email.
When the writer approached the leaders of the market to say few things about the inferno they said they are tired and have been talking since morning and as a result cannot grant any interview.
