Kano traders protest govt demolition of 5,000 stalls

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf

Traders on Thursday protested the demolition of no fewer than 5,000 stalls located on the IBB Way in the Kano metropolisby the Kano State Government, through the Urban Planning and Development Authority, around the Kano Main Eid Ground.

The demolition was carried out on Wednesday by the agency after the expiration of the 48-hour ultimatum given to the traders by the authority as, according to the agency, the traders were occupying the place illegally.

Many of the angry traders, whose stalls were demolished, insisted they would not leave the site, while criticising the government, and calling its officials unprintable names.

Armed policemen deployed to provide support to the KNUPDA officers watched helplessly.

Market officials told our correspondent that they had occupied the market area for 18 years since it was allocated to them by the Kano Emirate Council, through the late Galadiman Kano, Alhaji Tijjani Hashim.

According to the traders, the previous administration in the state officially allocated a place for them to continue with their businesses.

The demolition came four days before the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, as thousands of customers from within and outside the state were making purchases at the market for the forthcoming Sallah festival.

Some of the items being sold at the market included textile materials, children’s wear, foodstuffs, footwear, plastic materials and cooking utensils, among others.

The action of the government was greeted with condemnation, as a section of the traders described the development as very unfortunate because it came a few days before the Eid-el-Kabir festival.

“The demolition should have been carried out before this time and the government should have provided us with an alternative location,” one of the market leaders said.