The Bauchi Central Market Traders and Artisans Association has declared its support for the decision of the state government to relocate small scale traders selling goods near streets around Muda Lawal Market.
This was made known by the treasurer of the association identified as Alhaji Zubairu Ahmed while addressing journalists in Bauchi on the government’s directive to the traders to relocate and consequent protest against the decision by the affected traders.
Ahmed submitted that the decision was taken for the good of all, contrary to the insinuation that it was meant to witch-hunt them.
According to Ahmed, the central market, as it is now, was too congested and almost impassable due to indiscriminate positioning of kiosks and stalls, which made it extremely difficult for vehicles to gain access into the market.
He informed that for more than three times, the state government had given the affected traders notices to relocate to the new place designated for them.
Despite the notice, Alhaji Ahmed said, the affected traders remained adamant and continued to operate from the central market despite the traffic congestion caused on roads around the market.
The treasurer, who was in company of other leaders of the association, declared that the three-month notice given to the affected traders to relocate was enough for them to move to the new site provided free of charge by the government.
Recall that the affected traders on Thursday staged a peaceful protest to the Press Centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Council, against the government decision to relocate them from the central market.
According to the leader of the affected traders, Mu’azu Chiroma, the three-month notice given to them by the state government was too short for them to relocate.
He argued that they cannot build new shops at the designated place at the Muda Lawal Market within the time frame given by the state government.
He, however, urged the state governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, to assist them build shops at the new place and allow them to pay for them in instalments.