Traders in Sabo Market in Ikorodu, Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State, have called on the council to rehabilitate the market before rainy season commences.
The traders, who spoke, on Thursday, in Lagos, said that the market lacked well connected drainage, adding that the development usually make the environment in the market messy and discomforting to them, especially during rainfall.
A tomato seller at the market, Mrs Ayomide Ekundayo, said that many shops would be forced to close when the rains began because of the flooding of the market.
She said buyers usually divert to other markets to avoid the mess that rainfall caused to the environment in the market.
“Our earnings shrink by half during the rainy season,’’ she said.
A ram seller, Alhaji Mohammed Sani, also said the Sabo market had not enjoyed government intervention as it ought to be, adding that the infrastructure needed to be modernised.
He said traders in the market would continue to count their loses during rainy season unless the drainage is effected in the market.
Another shop owner in the market, Mrs. Theresa Ukwachi, said the floors of the market needed to be tarred to ease the distress of buyers and sellers, especially during heavy rains.
“Many vehicles parked in the market sink because of the mud brought about by the rains.
“This means that vehicles hauling goods may have to park far away and this translates to more cost to traders in transporting the goods to the market and the attendant disadvantage to our businesses and profits,’’ she said.
Meanwhile, a top official of the council, who did not his identity mentioned said that the council was aware of the flooding confronting the market.
“The council’s management has been working out modalities with the state government to address the environmental challenges befalling traders in the market whenever the rains start.
“Flood control in Sabo market is an elephant project and the local government alone cannot bear the cost.
”However, the leadership of the council will not rest on its oars while her citizens continue to experience agony,’’ he said. (NAN)