Traders occupying the entire building of Jos Main Market staged a protest around the market on Tuesday in response to the relocation notice issued by the Jos Main Market Authority management.

The protest followed the directive to relocate from the old building to a newly designated area within the market.

Our correspondent reports that the market authority, through its General Manager, Mangna Yusuf Wamyil, had given a two-week ultimatum, which is expected to expire on Thursday.

The decision followed consultations between the Plateau State Government and leaders of the traders.

In the relocation notice, the market authority also stated that the decision is for the safety of the traders and their customers, considering the status of the building following a recent fire incident in the market.

But the protesting traders complained that they had already spent money constructing malls under the old building, adding that the new designated place would not be adequate to accommodate them.

They called on the market authority to allow them continue doing their business in the area.

Zumret William, a trader at the market, noted during the protest that “We have not recovered from the recent fire outbreak that destroyed our properties worth millions of naira. Now the government is asking us to relocate. If we are forced to leave this section of the market, we will definitely face trouble, especially with our livelihoods, since we don’t have allocated spaces in the new area.”

Aliyu Adam, another trader, lamented that the relocation notice was not in the knowledge of the state government, accusing their leaders of conniving with some government officials to achieve their hidden objectives.

“There is always a way for the government to notify people about certain decisions. But with this decision, we believe the government is not fully aware of the implications, which is why we are protesting,” Adam said.

Usman Hassan, another trader, lamented that “We lost huge amounts of money recently in the fire outbreak. After the incident, Governor Mutfwang visited the market and encouraged us to continue our businesses. We constructed some malls and resumed operations. Now, we’ve been asked to leave the area, but only 400 spaces have been allocated to us instead of the 1,500 spaces we need. We’re in a dilemma. We urge the government to reconsider this decision.”

Responding on the development, the Jos North LG chairman, Jhon Christ, explained that the market is exclusively reserves of the government and it designated where people should go.

He urged the traders to work closely with the government.

“Government cannot allow to be taken by all forms trader traders. I urged the traders to adhere to government directives because the government wants to ensure that the city is safe,” he said. (Daily Trust)