EPE (LAGOS ) - Hundreds of market women in Epe Local Government Council of Lagos State were last week displaced following a massive demolition of shops by the council’s authorities.

Reports say that no fewer than 150 lock-up shops and stalls were demolished at the Ayetoro Central Market in Epe, the council headquarters, for blocking the drains.

The demolition exercise, which began last week, also affected 20 stalls erected near the General Post Office in the town.

As a result of the demolition, business activities have been temporarily disrupted in the community.

It was learnt that the structures were erected without the approval of the council.
An official of the council, who did not want top be identified, told newsmen that the exercise was ‘’long overdue’’ as the traders had been served notices before the demolition.

‘’The shops are built on drains which have been blocked by filth, thereby causing incessant flooding in the area.

‘’We tried to persuade them to relocate to another place that will be suitable but they are not willing to cooperate with the local government,’’ the official said.

In an interview with newsmen the Executive Secretary of the council, Alhaji Bashir Egberongbe, said the demolished structures had constituted a nuisance to the community and were also hideouts for hoodlums, particularly at night.

One of the affected traders, Alhaji Rasheed Balogun, criticised the demolition, saying it had taken away their means of livelihood without any alternative.

‘’We are still grappling with generating some money for the upkeep of our unemployed
children and now, we have been rendered jobless.
‘’What do they expect us to live on now?’’ he said.