By Anthonia Duru
Following massive construction embarked upon by Lagos State Government in Agege, some traders and shop owners have been in a period of groaning and pains. Pains associated to the disruption of their daily routine and means of earning a living.
During a visit to Pen Cinema by our reporter on Monday, many respondents who spoke lamented the slow pace of work despite Governor Babajide Sanwoolu’s visit to the site few weeks back. Not even the mandate and deadline given to Hitech, the construction company handing the job will assuage their pains and fears.
The respondents who are majorly traders and displaced shop owners expressed their concern that the pace of work has affected their business in no small way.
Nduka John, a commercial motorcyclist who plies Iyana-Ipaja to Pen Cinema said, “the flyover bridge upon completion will ease transportation but the slow pace of work which has linger for over two years is bringing hardship to many traders and business owners in the axis.” John added that the construction has changed and affected his route and many other okada operators.
A fish seller who identified herself as Iya Bassit, said before, she was selling an average of 15 cartons of fish daily. “But now, I can barely sell four per day because most of my customers take other routes that are not connected to my side of the road…” she lamented.
Chinyere Ani sells fairly used clothes at Pen Cinema. According to her, she has been in the business since 2007 and she never had a store or shop but she sells along the road. Though she boasted that she has built a house for herself from the proceed of her venture, she lamentted that the pace of work has affected her business negatively. According to her, “I still sell despite the construction, i come here everyday from my house in Sango which i built from the proceed of this business. I appeal to Governor Sanwoolu to please urge the contractor to complete this construction fast. The pace of work has affected my business. I don’t have a permanent stand because environmental officials come almost everyday to disturb us but i am not tired because this is the only place i make my earnings.”
A sales attendant who pleaded to remain anonymous at the popular Bible Wonderland bookshop, located at Pen Cinema said the construction has adversely affected their business. According to him, many find it very hard coming over to the shop because of the construction work.
A commercial bus driver Banji Anjorin said the construction has also created restrictions to comutters in the route.
One Ikechi Obi,who was seen displaying mobile phones, when our reporter asked about his experience since the beginning of construction work explained that his shop was demolished due to the construction. “As at the time my shop was demolished in 2018, I had no where to turn to. I decided to pick up my broken self and I started displaying here. though its not easy but it is better than doing notting. People still patronise me but you don’t expect to enjoy the level of patronage I was enjoying when I was in my shop. I am hopeful that I will get another shop soon because the stress of moving my wares daily from one point to the other is telling on my health”, he lamented.
Tinuke Ajibike is a Provision seller.Recounting her experience she said,“it is really affecting us here because we are unable to sell our goods. If vehicles could be allowed to pass through this path, they will be able to link with the other side and this will make them aware of what we are selling but it’s so unfortunate. “
Chidindum Okoye trades in daily consumables .He however, speaks of the impairment of his movement. “It had affected my movement in the sense that the on-going construction is occupying some space and people find it difficult to move freely. You have to look for another route because there are so many construction equipment being kept there which is blocking the space where people normally move through and also the crowd there which makes the path choked up. Even with that, we still pass through by managing since it’s for the development of Agege and if they don’t construct that place well, it won’t be okay during raining season for movement.” He warned.
Despite the on going construction, traders are still trading around the construction site.
