There was unrest at the Trade Fair International Market in Lagos on Monday as traders took to the streets to protest against what they described as unbearable hikes in shop rents, agent fees, and other charges imposed by market authorities.
The demonstrators, in their hundreds, shut down sections of the market while chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards. They accused agents and the management of the market of imposing arbitrary levies that threatened their businesses.
“We cannot survive with these outrageous charges,” one of the traders lamented. “Every year, they keep increasing the rent and adding new fees. How do they expect us to cope when sales are already low?”
Another protester echoed the same frustration, insisting that the increases were exploitative.
“The burden is too much. We pay for shop rent, we pay for electricity, we pay for security, and now they are introducing more fees. It is killing our businesses,” he said.
The demonstration drew the attention of passersby and security personnel, who were deployed to the scene to prevent the situation from escalating. Tensions, however, remained high as traders vowed not to back down until their demands were addressed.
“We are not against paying rents, but it must be reasonable. What they are doing now is forcing many of us out of business,” another trader told reporters.
At the time of filing this report, market authorities were yet to issue an official response to the traders’ grievances. Security officials maintained surveillance around the area to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
