Members of the Orilowo Perishable Food Market Association on Thursday protested at the Lagos State House of Assembly over the delay in approving the location of the market.
Photos of the protest made available to PUNCH Metro showed members of the association holding placards bearing various inscriptions.
The protesters demanded immediate approval for the Orilowo Perishable Food Market to be located at Plot 705 Adekunle Bus Stop, Ikorodu Road, Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area.
In a statement made available to our correspondent on Thursday, the President of the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights, Alex Omotehinse, who led the protest, said the market should be approved to operate within a recognised market in line with established rules and standards.
Omotehinse said, “The petitioners wrote a letter dated May 16, 2022, to Agboyi-Ketu LCDA seeking approval of a designated site; unfortunately, officials of the LCDA have deliberately refused to grant the approval as requested by the association, thus putting their business activities in jeopardy.
“We are therefore, by this petition, demanding the intervention of the Lagos State House of Assembly to call Agboyi-Ketu LCDA and relevant agencies to order, with the view to actualising the approval of the requested space as the operational base of the Orilowo Perishable Food Market Association.”
Also, a petition made available to our correspondent partly read, “We wish to assure the Speaker of our continued support and partnership for good governance in Lagos. We earnestly anticipate the intervention of the Lagos State House of Assembly in resolving the issues in furtherance of the commitment of the Lagos State Government to assist market men and women in sustaining their livelihoods.
“Your intervention will help in the alleviation of the sufferings of dependents who are mostly unemployed and may thus become vulnerable to social menace as a consequence of the destruction of the livelihood of family breadwinners.”
The Majority Leader, Hon. Noheem Adams, who reportedly addressed the association, appealed to them for more time.
He was quoted by Vanguard as saying, “We appeal that you give us the opportunity; we would ensure justice; we would do the needful; but we need to hear from all parties involved, including the LCDA chairman. We cannot hear from only you and decide; we need to hear from all stakeholders.”
