Stakeholders of Kofar Ruwa Iron and Rod market have continued to voice out
their disapproval over the decision of Dala Local Government council
chairman, Alhaji Suleiman Dan Isli to build lock-up shops on the main road
of the Alphamic Line area of the over 45-year old market which has
continued to serve customers not only from northern Nigerian states, but
from neighbouring countries such as Niger, Sudan and Chad.
Pointblanknews.com recently reported the tension that has continued to
rise over the erection of the controversial structure by Dala Local
Government authorities.
However, Pointblanknews.com reports that Force Headquarters, Abuja, has
already directed the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in-charge
of Zone 1 to look into the matter and ensure that it is resolved amicably
without breakdown of law and order. The leadership of Kofar Ruwa Iron and
Rod Association (KRIRDA) has earlier called on Governor Abdullahi Umar
Ganduje to wade into the matter and stop Dala Local Government chairman
from altering the original master plan of the rod market. Governor Ganduje
who is said to have taking note of the development is currently in Dubai
on official trip.
The chairman of Dala Local Government Council, in his bid to intimidate
the traders, last Friday, stormed the market with hundreds of thugs and
hoodlums, wielding dangerous weapons as labourers on his payroll opened
the ground and started building the shops on the pathways of Alphamic
line. The presence of the hoodlums who constituted nuisance and threatened
the peace of the market forced iron dealers to close for the day while
customers were scared aware. Pointblanknews.com reports that since the
incident last week, economic activities in the multi-billion Naira market
has continued to drop as most traders stay aware for fear of being
attacked.
However, Chief Alphonsus Ubaneche, member, Board of Trustees (BoT), Kofar
Ruwa Iron and Rod Dealers Association, (KRIRDA), whose office is located
on the affected Alphamic line speaks on the need for Governor Abdullahi
Umar Ganduje and other stakeholders to stop the chairman of Dala Local
Council from altering the original master plan of Kofar Ruwa iron and rod
market.
His words: “I am deeply disturbed and surprised over what is happening.
I keep on wondering why Dala Local Government chairman is taking this
action. I have been in this Kofar Ruwa market since 1987, that is over 29
years; and I am aware that this market has existed for the past 35 years.
The market has a master plan, and it has never been changed over the
years. Many governments have come and gone, many council chairmen have
come and gone and this market, and in particular, the Alphamic line has
been as it is—why now that the Dala Council chairman has decided to
destroy the market by building lock-up shops on the main road! This is
unfathomable and I keep on wondering what his reasons are.
“In fact, let me reveal to you that I personally service that very
Aphamic line where they are erecting the illegal structures. That is where
my office is located and I am affected. Go and ask, every year,
particularly during rainy season, I personally finance the servicing of
that Alphamic line; that is, after paying taxes and levies and sorts of
revenue imposed on us. Now, if you go ahead and build those shops on the
main road, how are trailers going to bring in our goods? How would there
be orderliness in the market. We all know what has been happening, in case
of emergency, say, a fire incident, how would people and vehicle gain
access in and out of the market? So, I want to insist that something must
be done about it. Now, if you talk about revenue, like I told you, we are
even being over-tasked. Each trailer loading and off-loading in this
market pay N2000.
“There are other levies too that run on daily basis. Let me also tell
you that when you stop people like us from doing business, you should not
think it is all about us or it is all about me. In this market, more than
30 people from different tribes in this country are directly or indirectly
on my employment. This is where they get their daily bread, so I believe
something should be done urgently to stop this injustice. It is improper
to even ask us to pay for the space, a pathway and frontage of our shops
and offices which has been as it is for over 45 years. What an injustice!
We are not paying a dime and the Dala council chairman should be advised
to concentrate on matters that will bring needed development in the
council and stop this controversial project that is threatening the peace
of the people. So, what we are saying is that Governor Ganduje should
intervene and stop the Council chairman from erecting those illegal
structures on the main road. We must have access to the market; we must
have access to our offices. In this matter, we owe Dala Local Council
nothing; they should leave our market alone. Government as an institution
is designed to pursue the welfare of the people, not to frustrate them,”
he concluded.