Demolition: 6,000 traders to lose shops at Kaduna's Unguwan Rimi market

Traders at Unguwar Rimi Market in Kaduna North LGA have pleaded for extension of the deadline of the state government to enable them to evacuate their goods.

A 7-day notice given to the traders by Kaduna State Urban Development Properties Authority (KASUPDA) will end tomorrow, Dec 1, 2020.

The chairman of the Market Association, Alhaji Musa Hassan, said about 6,000 traders would be affected by the demolition and pleaded with the authorities to give them more time to relocate.

He said the temporary site allocated to the traders on Ramat Road, Unguwar Rimi, had not been developed, and “We have no place to move our wares.”

When Daily Trust visited the market, it was observed that traders had embarked on self-demolition of their shops in an attempt to salvage roofing sheets, doors, windows and other valuables.

A meat seller in the market, Alhaji Ya'u, said they were shocked by the impromptu notice but that as law-abiding citizens, they had no choice but to pray it was for the best.

The traders pleaded with the state government to develop and expand the temporary site which can only accommodate 300 shop owners.

Daily Trust reports that the quit notice, signed by KASUPDA’s Director, Development Control, Bello Musa Ibrahim, partly read: “In line with the Kaduna Urban Renewal Programme by the state government, you are hereby given 7-day notice from the date of receipt to vacate/remove all your valuables from the site.”

It warned that failure to comply with the directives would leave the authority with no option than to remove or demolish the said structures.