Oko Baba wood dealers appeal to Lagos State to reopen market

Wood dealers at the popular Oko Baba wood market have appealed to the Lagos State Government to reopen the market, almost four weeks after it was closed down allegedly on the orders of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

The market which is considered the largest of its type in West Africa was sealed off because of the poor sanitary condition, blocked drainages and dangerous activities of wood transporters who are fond of loading their wares on the Adeniji Adele end of the Third Mainland Bridge inward Herbert Macaulay Way.

The wood dealers comprising of sawyers, saw millers, pullers, engineers, pushers and transporters are now calling on the Lagos State Government to save them from the economic hardship brought upon them by the closure.

Rising from an executive meeting of all the associations operating in the market earlier in the week, the leaders of the various associations pleaded with the state government to come to their rescue and open the market for operations.

Alhaji Taiwo Ahmed Abdul Qadri, the Task Force Chairman of Sawyers Association said they have taken all steps necessary to get the government to urgently look into their plight.

“We are appealing to the Lagos State Government to reopen the market. We have sent emissaries to the governor, reached out to the Yaba LCDA Chairman, paramount rulers in Lagos and top politicians in the state to help us appeal to the governor.”

“Since the closure, we cannot feed, send our children to school and provide financial support to our families. We are not up in arms against the government, we are only appealing to the Governor to temper justice with mercy and reopen the market.”