Kano state market management, traders clash over relocation

The Management of Sabon Gari market in Kano and traders pushing wheelbarrows in the market have been entangled in disagreement over relocation plan.

It was gathered that the clash ensued after an arrangement was made by the management to relocate the traders pushing wheelbarrows to free up space and ensure conducive environment in the market but the later rejected the plan.

The traders who took to the streets to stage a protest against the decision of the market, accused the Managing Director of the Market, Abdul Bashir Hussain of forcing them out of the market.

Leading the protest, the Secretary of the Barrow Group Organization, Sanusi Sale Abdallah said despite surrendering themselves to the management of the market for necessary changes, the Sabon Gari Market management insisted on their expulsion.

“Immediately after he was sworn in, he told us that he didn’t want us at the market, we told him we would adjust to new changes and he still insisted we must leave,” Sanusi said.

Responding to the development, the Managing Director, Sabon Gari Market, Abdul Bashir Hussain said a conducive environment has been provided for the wheel barrow traders to relocate to, before the decision was made, but they rejected the offer.

Abdul Bashir Hussain explained that the presence of the wheelbarrow traders causes a lot of havoc and security challenges on the streets of the market.

“Before we took this decision, we invited all stakeholders, which includes elders, the security, members of the Wheel Barrow Traders Association and every concerned individual, and we explained the kind of inconvenience these wheel Barrow Traders were causing in the market, and we offer them another place to move their trading materials for convenience and security of the market, but they refused.

“Their activities tend to block roads in the market which cause congestion between men and women in the market and is against the teaching of Islam.

“We will not reverse our decision because it is in the interest of the general public, my advice to these wheel Barrow Traders is to obey the rule of law and ensure that they conduct their businesses through legitimate means.

“The management still has in their proposal of resettling them to continue their business,” the managing director, Abdul Bashir Hussain however stated.