By Tayo Joseph Lagos, Nigeria
The Lagos State Government has denied involvement in the demolition of Sabo market on Itoikin road in Ikorodu, which was carried out on Thursday night by unscrupulous and desperate developers suspected to be acting in connivance with certain Local Government officials.
A statement issued on Friday by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, stated that the State Government did not demolish the market and would not demolish any market or property in the State without following due process.
The statement noted further that the State Government’s preliminary investigation revealed that the market was demolished by some private developers, in connivance with some local government officers and a certain uniformed personnel who acted beyond their brief.
It explained that government had observed a pattern which engages uniform men to carry out spurious orders without any proper notice being served to deny market women of the means of their livelihood.
It affirmed that Government would no longer tolerate this brazen act of illegality.
The commissioner said to forestall similar occurrence, the Government would henceforth beam its searchlight on the excesses of developers, local government officials and their cohorts in order to protect the interest of hard working traders.
“The current administration in the State is committed to the socio-economic empowerment of the people and has formulated policies and taken measures that would guarantee their economic well-being.”
“It would therefore not fold its arms and watch desperate individuals or groups deny hard working people in the State their means of livelihood,” Ayorinde said.
The statement reiterated the commitment of the government to protect the right of every citizen and warned against further acts of connivance between developers and their cohorts.
