3rd August, 2015
Cyriacus Izuekwe
Traders and the developer of Aguiyi Ironsi International Trade Centre at Ladipo Spare Parts Market in Mushin, Lagos State, western Nigeria, are locked in a fierce battle over the imposition of tolls on them by the developer.
The developer known as Paramo Development Ventures Limited wrote to the market union about its intention to collect tolls from traders who brought goods or containers into the market.
The letter stated that owners of each container brought into the market with goods will pay a fee of between N10,000 and N20,000 depending on the size of the conatiner, while anybody that comes to the market to buy any spare parts will pay between N200 and N500 and will be issued receipts.
Paramo also informed the traders that they will pay N200 for any good bought outside and brought into their shops for sale.
The union replied them on behalf of the traders that they will not pay such levies.
After the union’s response, trouble started when Paramo workers attempted to enforce the policy at the market.
Some traders resisted and seized Paramo’s receipts and threatened to mob the workers if they continued the levy collection.
It took the intervention of the market’s security officials to bring the situation under control.
P.M.NEWS gathered that Paramo leased the market from Mushin Local Government for 25 years and sub-leased some portions to the traders for some years on condition that the traders will use their money to build shops.
It was learnt that part of the agreement was that the traders paid allocation fee of between N150,000 and N200,000 to Paramo for each shop and will be paying a certain amount of money every year to Paramo as toll and Paramo will in turn pay Mushin council.
The latest demand angered the traders who alleged that they used their money to develop the market and now Paramo wants to intimidate and extort them. They insisted that they will not pay such tolls and were ready to fight Paramo and its agents.
Confirming the development, the Chairman of the market union, Mr Cyril Onyemaechi said they rejected Paramo’s demands and have made that known to the Mushin council to avoid escalation of the crises.
When our correspondent contacted the Director of Paramo, Hassan-Ajibade Olajekun, through phone, he did not pick several calls and also did not reply the text messages sent to him.
At the market, the workers who spoke to our correspondent confirmed the development and said the market belongs to Paramo and as such they are entitled to collect such tolls.
The workers said the traders’ union collects such tolls but does not pay anything to Paramo that owns the market.
P.M.NEWS gathered that the Mushin council has summoned the warring parties to a meeting to resolve the crisis.