The needless invasion of Kofar Ruwa iron and rod market by chairman of Dala Local Government Council, Alhaji Suleiman Dan Isli has continued to raise dust as Force Headquarters, Abuja, has already ordered a full-scale investigation into the matter. Information reaching 247ureports indicate that the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in-charge of Zone One and Kano state Commissioner of Police have been ordered by higher authorities to fully investigate the activities of Dala Local Government chairman, Alhaji Dan Isli who, last Friday, invaded Kofar Ruwa iron market with thugs and miscreants armed with knives, arrows and other dangerous weapons.
The chairman who caused commotion in the market also dug foundation and commenced illegal erection of the lock-shops on the pathways of the Alphamic Line section of the rod market. 247ureports learnt that it was almost a riot situation as traders locked their shops and people ran helter-skelter. Since that day, economic activity in the multi-billion Naira market has remained at a very low pace as most traders decided to away from the market for fear of being maimed or killed.
Meanwhile, Chief Alphonsus Ubaneche, member, Board of Trustees (BoT), Kofar Ruwa Iron and Rod Dealers Association, (KRIRDA), whose office is located on the affected Alphamic line speaks on the need for Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and other stakeholders to stop the chairman of Dala Local Council from altering the original master plan of Kofar Ruwa iron and rod market.
His words: “I am deeply disturbed and surprised over what is happening. I keep on wondering why Dala Local Government chairman is taking this action. I have been in this Kofar Ruwa market since 1987, that is over 29 years; and I am aware that this market has existed for the past 35 years. The market has a master plan, and it has never been changed over the years. Many governments have come and gone, many council chairmen have come and gone and this market, and in particular, the Alphamic line has been as it is—why now that the Dala Council chairman has decided to destroy the market by building lock-up shops on the main road! This is unfathomable and I keep on wondering what his reasons are.
“In fact, let me reveal to you that I personally service that very Aphamic line where they are erecting the illegal structures. That is where my office is located and I am affected. Go and ask, every year, particularly during rainy season, I personally finance the servicing of that Alphamic line; that is, after paying taxes and levies and sorts of revenue imposed on us. Now, if you go ahead and build those shops on the main road, how are trailers going to bring in our goods? How would there be orderliness in the market. We all know what has been happening, in case of emergency, say, a fire incident, how would people and vehicle gain access in and out of the market? So, I want to insist that something must be done about it. Now, if you talk about revenue, like I told you, we are even being over-tasked. Each trailer loading and off-loading in this market pay N2000.
“There are other levies too that run on daily basis. Let me also tell you that when you stop people like us from doing business, you should not think it is all about us or it is all about me. In this market, more than 30 people from different tribes in this country are directly or indirectly on my employment. This is where they get their daily bread, so I believe something should be done urgently to stop this injustice. It is improper to even ask us to pay for the space, a pathway and frontage of our shops and offices which has been as it is for over 45 years. What an injustice! We are not paying a dime and the Dala council chairman should be advised to concentrate on matters that will bring needed development in the council and stop this controversial project that is threatening the peace of the people. So, what we are saying is that Governor Ganduje should intervene and stop the Council chairman from erecting those illegal structures on the main road. We must have access to the market; we must have access to our offices. In this matter, we owe Dala Local Council nothing; they should leave our market alone. Government as an institution is designed to pursue the welfare of the people, not to frustrate them.”
