Suleja IBB market traders protest extortion by government council
Traders of the popular IBB Central Market in Suleja local government of Niger State have protested against the government council for allegedly extorting traders with plans to enlarge structures within the market.
The traders carrying placards with various inscriptions denouncing activities of the local government authorities also rejected council policies of double levies which they said was compounding their socio-economic hardship.
Speaking to newsmen, a trader said, “They asked us to pay N1.2 million each for one shop so that it can be raised to an upstairs, but they later reduced it to N800, 000.00 and they refused to tell us what the money is for. They also demanded that we pay another N10,000 non-refundable for forms.”
He argued that the government can open up more markets on fresh grounds instead of trying to turn shops built about 30 years ago into upstairs just because they want increased revenue.
He said, “Such adjustment is just an invitation to disaster because the shops will start collapsing.”
Meanwhile, the chairman of Suleja local government, Bawa Naibi, in his reaction, dismissed claims of extortion, blaming the face-off between his office and the traders on the handiwork of some ‘mischief makers’, distorting facts to suit their purpose.
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