The Agbalata Market in Badagry is one of the ancient markets in Nigeria. Established in the 1940s, the market has grown to become a modern market in contemporary Nigeria. From consumables to finished goods, home appliances, textiles, electrical electronics, jeweleries, arts and crafts, drugs, fish and what not.
However, the mega city project of the Lagos state government has seen many markets in state been redeveloped, redesigned, reconstructed and structurally upgraded to an appreciable standard and the Agbalata market cannot be an exception.
But curiously, the Badagry market upgrading took a new turn when market women took to the street to protest against what they called insensitivity of concerned authorities. They are apprehensive of the looming forceful ejection from the market and accused the government of non – consultation and non – inclusion in the whole arrangement.
In a chat with the executive chairman of Badagry Local Government in his office, Hon. Husitode Moses Dosu allays the fears of the market women, he said the re – development exercise is legal and normal in order to reposition Badagry for expected population growth and the massive developmental projects that are coming to Badagry. He said Badagry is part of the Mega City plan of the Lagos State Government and he cannot continue to nurture dilapidated market.
On the alternative location the market would move to, a number of market women and men I spoke to complained bitterly, saying the location cannot contain a quarter population of the market. They also recounted the experiences of Tejuosho and Oyingbo markets where such developments has taken place but ended up in the hands of government officials and wealthy citizens.
This is the legitimate fears of the market users but the chairman think otherwise. He said, in Badagry we know ourselves too well, our grand mothers and fathers used that market and I cannot wake up today and give it out unjustly. On the relocation, the development is going to be in phases, nobody is emptying the market.
