Several angry women who have been severely displeased
by a government initiative have taken over a popular
highway in Edo State in protest.
Many women on Monday blocked the Uselu/Ugbowo
section of the Benin-Lagos highway in anger.
The women were staging the protest over plans by Egor
Local Government Area of Edo State to relocate traders.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the
protesters, under the aegis of Uselu Market Women
Association, were resisting the directive to move to
lock-up stores built by the council.
The women, displaying placards, blocked both sides of
the highway, preventing motorists from continuing with
their trips.
Some of the women said the N1.2m charged for the
stalls was too expensive for them, especially given the
type of businesses most of them do.
The women said their problem was compounded by the
action of the local council, which commenced the
removal of their make shift shops on Monday.
One of the market women, Mrs. Celena Okon, described
the council’s action as “an act of wickedness”, in view
of the current economic situation in the country.
She said, “What am I selling that you will force me to
pay over a million naira for a single store? I believe they
should consider the worth of our businesses
individually.
“Where do you expect a woman who sells only crayfish
or tomatoes to get such a ridiculous amount of money
to pay, when in actual fact most are in dire need of
additional funds to grow their businesses?”
Another market woman, Mrs. Imade Osifo, who
described the situation as pathetic, said their decision
to barricade the highway was for the world to know
what they were going through.
She said, “They want to force us to go into the stores
and we have told them that we cannot afford the stores;
that is why they are destroying our businesses.”
Osifo, who accused the council of being insensitive,
added, “When the plan to construct these lock-up
stores came up, they (council) told us that the prices
will be pocket friendly, especially to some of us
involved in petty trading.
“But what do we have now, N1.2m for a store is a price
that most of us cannot afford; there is no way many of
us can afford that now.
“Even if the country’s economy was okay, how do you
expect a woman who sells only salt and Maggi to
generate such?” Osifo asked.
All efforts to get authorities of Egor local council to
comment on the situation proved abortive, as the
Council’s Head of Service was said to be unavailable.
When contacted on telephone, the Council’s spokesman,
Mrs. Prisca Ebvadiaro, said she was not in the position
to comment on the matter.
by a government initiative have taken over a popular
highway in Edo State in protest.
Many women on Monday blocked the Uselu/Ugbowo
section of the Benin-Lagos highway in anger.
The women were staging the protest over plans by Egor
Local Government Area of Edo State to relocate traders.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the
protesters, under the aegis of Uselu Market Women
Association, were resisting the directive to move to
lock-up stores built by the council.
The women, displaying placards, blocked both sides of
the highway, preventing motorists from continuing with
their trips.
Some of the women said the N1.2m charged for the
stalls was too expensive for them, especially given the
type of businesses most of them do.
The women said their problem was compounded by the
action of the local council, which commenced the
removal of their make shift shops on Monday.
One of the market women, Mrs. Celena Okon, described
the council’s action as “an act of wickedness”, in view
of the current economic situation in the country.
She said, “What am I selling that you will force me to
pay over a million naira for a single store? I believe they
should consider the worth of our businesses
individually.
“Where do you expect a woman who sells only crayfish
or tomatoes to get such a ridiculous amount of money
to pay, when in actual fact most are in dire need of
additional funds to grow their businesses?”
Another market woman, Mrs. Imade Osifo, who
described the situation as pathetic, said their decision
to barricade the highway was for the world to know
what they were going through.
She said, “They want to force us to go into the stores
and we have told them that we cannot afford the stores;
that is why they are destroying our businesses.”
Osifo, who accused the council of being insensitive,
added, “When the plan to construct these lock-up
stores came up, they (council) told us that the prices
will be pocket friendly, especially to some of us
involved in petty trading.
“But what do we have now, N1.2m for a store is a price
that most of us cannot afford; there is no way many of
us can afford that now.
“Even if the country’s economy was okay, how do you
expect a woman who sells only salt and Maggi to
generate such?” Osifo asked.
All efforts to get authorities of Egor local council to
comment on the situation proved abortive, as the
Council’s Head of Service was said to be unavailable.
When contacted on telephone, the Council’s spokesman,
Mrs. Prisca Ebvadiaro, said she was not in the position
to comment on the matter.
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