Shanties Demolition: Shops Owners Appeal For More Time

Owners of shops in
shanties marked for demolition in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council of the FCT, have appealed to the authorities to give them more time to look for alternative shops.
They made the appeal in separate interviews with newsmen in Kubwa, Abuja, lastThursday.
Our correspondent reports that the FCDA on Wednesday embarked on the demolition of shanties attached to houses and being used as shops.
One of the landlords whose shops had been demolished,  Alhaji Hassan Mohammed, claimed they were part of the plan he submitted for approval before he built the house long time ago.
“I depend on rents from these shops for my daily bread.’’
He appealed to the department of development Control to reconsider its decision and give shop owners more time to look for alternative shops for their commercial activities.
“The landlords and shop owners are counting their loses, as the goods inside the shops were destroyed during the demolition”, Mohammed said.
A  trader Mr Emeka Amadi, whose shop was also demolished,  said the ongoing demolition of shanties should be halted so as not to affect adjourning structures.
According to him, the current move was capable of sending many traders into unemployment with its attendant economic consequences.
“This kind of exercise will send many traders to the streets as many of us have no money to rent shops in the plazas in Kubwa.
“Many of these shops, to us, are corner shops and they are affordable, we use them to sell goods to make ends meet.
“Kubwa village market shop is expensive and the place is already congested, the only option for us is to rent shops elsewhere to carry out our activities to meet our family commitment”, he said.
Uzodima Agbata, whose shop was also affected, described the demolition as “unnecessary.”
Agbata appealed to the government to assist the affected traders to relocate to affordable places.
“The shops in plazas and the village market are too expensive for us to rent.’’
On her part, Mrs Victory Patrick-Oghenaogie, a trader, said the demolition would further compound the economic hardships on the landlords and traders, if not halted.