Concern grows as poor refuse disposal, street- trading return to Ladipo auto spare-parts market
NOT many know about the lowly beginnings in 1979 of Ladipo International Auto Spare-Parts Market, Lagos.
What is not in doubt is that, what started as six or seven shops and a handful of traders, have grown into the biggest market for second-hand motor vehicle parts on the West Coast.
Another thing that is not being in doubt is that the traders have begun going against their agreement with the Lagos State government.
The last time they did in December 2008, the market was sealed off by agents of the government.
Today, the signs are there again.
The traders have begun flouting the regulations against street trading, erection of unapproved and illegal structures, use of pushcart operators in disposing refuse and general comportment that indicates lack of organization.
For a year, at least, after the last closure, sanity reigned.
The traders consciously restricted themselves to their shops and stalls,
The major roads, Akinwumi, Ladipo and other minor inner-street routes were free from street traders and vehicles. Pedestrians also moved with relative ease.
Vehicular and pedestrian traffic all around Mushin –Toyota axis towards Oshodi as well as along the busy Toyota service lane from the Five Star end were free.
In those days, passengers could board mini buses to Mushin from Toyota Bus Stop.
But all that ended quite sometime ago when the traders literally forgot the hardship they go through whenever the market is shut.
Now, Ladipo Road and Akinwumi Street as well as others that pass through the vastly-expanded market, have been seized by street-traders
The traders and their wares have extended beyond the limits of the market to the main road and vehicles coming from Mushin now find it difficult to pass through to Toyota while those from Toyota can no longer find their way through Ladipo to Mushin and other destinations.
These days, pedestrians and motorists have a very tough time as they try to pass through the market, a fact that has led to many Lagosians avoiding the area.
“Why can’t these people stay in their shops?” an exasperated motorist, trapped along Ladipo Road last week, asked.
“See, how they have blocked the road with their wares as if how much they sell depends on how close they are to the road.”
Some of the traders had moved their goods, jacks, wheel covers and other lighter vehicle parts closer to the road.
The army of other traders in items such as videodisks, second-hand handsets, electronics, shoes, belts, second-hand clothing has also moved to the road with them.
“Those people on the road are not spare-parts traders,” a man who was pointed out to The Guardian as an official of the trader’s union said.
Though, it was gathered that the traders had been embroiled in a leadership dispute, the official who refused to disclose his name or position said: ‘we know people are blocking the road, which is not good.
“We will take care of the matter as soon as we settle down.
“The problem is that more people are coming in everyday as apprentices and no one can send an apprentice away or keep him at home.
“The ones you see on the road are apprentices. They are not touts or loafers as suggested.”
On the use of pushcart owners to dispose of refuse, rather than the state-government approved private-sector operators, the official said the waste-trucks hardly come into the market.
“I know the waste trucks used to come here and we patronized them. But they hardly come anymore and we have to use the pushcarts.
“But I think the roads are very bad.
The waste-truck drivers cannot come here easily so they stop along the service lane at Toyota Bus Stop.”
The deplorable condition of Ladipo and Akinwumi road should discourage not only waste truck drivers but other motorists as well.
A motorist trying to get to Mushin through Ladipo Road told The Guardian: “ In fact, right from the commencement of the rainy season, it would seem as if there has been continuous downpour on this road.
“I knew it was going to be hectic passing through, but I am going to Union Bank just less than a kilometre away.
“Should I get to Oshodi and Cappa to come in through Fatai Atere Way? That would be far too long a distance”, he said.
A passer-by heading towards Oshodi said: “ It used to be easy for people going to Oshodi to board vehicles at Ladipo.
“ But that is only possible in the morning before the traders arrive because once they do and have taken the road, it becomes rather difficult.
“Such passengers only get relief from vehicles coming from Iyana-Isolo through Five Star.”
A worker nearby told The Guardian the spare- part traders are creating problems for the area.
“They say the roads are bad, but their heavy-duty trucks carrying goods into their warehouses also damage the road.
“Their apprentices and the other petty-traders they attracted block the roads.
“On the issue of push-carts, they patronize them quite alright.
“I would not be surprised if they hear from Alausa very soon because someone has to call them to order if they cannot do so themselves.
“Those who display their wares on the roadsides are young traders without sufficient capital yet to rent a shop.
“They have been joined by food-sellers and other petty traders.
“Others are apprentices who come out from their masters’ shops inside the market to look for customers on the road.
“At the end of the day, you find a lot of people blocking the road with their wheel-barrows and all that.
“Passing through Ladipo from 9.00a.m. has always been a headache and this has resulted to vehicles coming from Mushin diverting to Iyana Isolo and then turn to Oshodi as a result of which those waiting for them at Toyota Bus Stop wait endlessly.
“That has created an opportunity for motorcycle riders to ply Ladipo to Oshodi.
“When they first started, they took N50.00 to Oshodi per passenger. Now, they charge N100.00 per passenger as a result of which many people who cannot afford the high cost wait endlessly at the bus stop,” he said.
The spill-over of spare-parts traders has also extended to a narrow path leading to the village behind OK Biscuits as well as into the premises of Sanctuary of Liberty Gospel Church situated on the outskirts of the village facing the service lane.
Shops have been carved out from the church’s fence-wall in what someone said was ‘encroachment by mammon’.
It was not possible to get an officially authenticated response from the traders’ union on account of a leadership crisis.
But it was reliably gathered that Ministry of the Environment had recently expressed its displeasure over the state of the market environment and reminded the traders of their agreement with the state government.
NOT many know about the lowly beginnings in 1979 of Ladipo International Auto Spare-Parts Market, Lagos.
What is not in doubt is that, what started as six or seven shops and a handful of traders, have grown into the biggest market for second-hand motor vehicle parts on the West Coast.
Another thing that is not being in doubt is that the traders have begun going against their agreement with the Lagos State government.
The last time they did in December 2008, the market was sealed off by agents of the government.
Today, the signs are there again.
The traders have begun flouting the regulations against street trading, erection of unapproved and illegal structures, use of pushcart operators in disposing refuse and general comportment that indicates lack of organization.
For a year, at least, after the last closure, sanity reigned.
The traders consciously restricted themselves to their shops and stalls,
The major roads, Akinwumi, Ladipo and other minor inner-street routes were free from street traders and vehicles. Pedestrians also moved with relative ease.
Vehicular and pedestrian traffic all around Mushin –Toyota axis towards Oshodi as well as along the busy Toyota service lane from the Five Star end were free.
In those days, passengers could board mini buses to Mushin from Toyota Bus Stop.
But all that ended quite sometime ago when the traders literally forgot the hardship they go through whenever the market is shut.
Now, Ladipo Road and Akinwumi Street as well as others that pass through the vastly-expanded market, have been seized by street-traders
The traders and their wares have extended beyond the limits of the market to the main road and vehicles coming from Mushin now find it difficult to pass through to Toyota while those from Toyota can no longer find their way through Ladipo to Mushin and other destinations.
These days, pedestrians and motorists have a very tough time as they try to pass through the market, a fact that has led to many Lagosians avoiding the area.
“Why can’t these people stay in their shops?” an exasperated motorist, trapped along Ladipo Road last week, asked.
“See, how they have blocked the road with their wares as if how much they sell depends on how close they are to the road.”
Some of the traders had moved their goods, jacks, wheel covers and other lighter vehicle parts closer to the road.
The army of other traders in items such as videodisks, second-hand handsets, electronics, shoes, belts, second-hand clothing has also moved to the road with them.
“Those people on the road are not spare-parts traders,” a man who was pointed out to The Guardian as an official of the trader’s union said.
Though, it was gathered that the traders had been embroiled in a leadership dispute, the official who refused to disclose his name or position said: ‘we know people are blocking the road, which is not good.
“We will take care of the matter as soon as we settle down.
“The problem is that more people are coming in everyday as apprentices and no one can send an apprentice away or keep him at home.
“The ones you see on the road are apprentices. They are not touts or loafers as suggested.”
On the use of pushcart owners to dispose of refuse, rather than the state-government approved private-sector operators, the official said the waste-trucks hardly come into the market.
“I know the waste trucks used to come here and we patronized them. But they hardly come anymore and we have to use the pushcarts.
“But I think the roads are very bad.
The waste-truck drivers cannot come here easily so they stop along the service lane at Toyota Bus Stop.”
The deplorable condition of Ladipo and Akinwumi road should discourage not only waste truck drivers but other motorists as well.
A motorist trying to get to Mushin through Ladipo Road told The Guardian: “ In fact, right from the commencement of the rainy season, it would seem as if there has been continuous downpour on this road.
“I knew it was going to be hectic passing through, but I am going to Union Bank just less than a kilometre away.
“Should I get to Oshodi and Cappa to come in through Fatai Atere Way? That would be far too long a distance”, he said.
A passer-by heading towards Oshodi said: “ It used to be easy for people going to Oshodi to board vehicles at Ladipo.
“ But that is only possible in the morning before the traders arrive because once they do and have taken the road, it becomes rather difficult.
“Such passengers only get relief from vehicles coming from Iyana-Isolo through Five Star.”
A worker nearby told The Guardian the spare- part traders are creating problems for the area.
“They say the roads are bad, but their heavy-duty trucks carrying goods into their warehouses also damage the road.
“Their apprentices and the other petty-traders they attracted block the roads.
“On the issue of push-carts, they patronize them quite alright.
“I would not be surprised if they hear from Alausa very soon because someone has to call them to order if they cannot do so themselves.
“Those who display their wares on the roadsides are young traders without sufficient capital yet to rent a shop.
“They have been joined by food-sellers and other petty traders.
“Others are apprentices who come out from their masters’ shops inside the market to look for customers on the road.
“At the end of the day, you find a lot of people blocking the road with their wheel-barrows and all that.
“Passing through Ladipo from 9.00a.m. has always been a headache and this has resulted to vehicles coming from Mushin diverting to Iyana Isolo and then turn to Oshodi as a result of which those waiting for them at Toyota Bus Stop wait endlessly.
“That has created an opportunity for motorcycle riders to ply Ladipo to Oshodi.
“When they first started, they took N50.00 to Oshodi per passenger. Now, they charge N100.00 per passenger as a result of which many people who cannot afford the high cost wait endlessly at the bus stop,” he said.
The spill-over of spare-parts traders has also extended to a narrow path leading to the village behind OK Biscuits as well as into the premises of Sanctuary of Liberty Gospel Church situated on the outskirts of the village facing the service lane.
Shops have been carved out from the church’s fence-wall in what someone said was ‘encroachment by mammon’.
It was not possible to get an officially authenticated response from the traders’ union on account of a leadership crisis.
But it was reliably gathered that Ministry of the Environment had recently expressed its displeasure over the state of the market environment and reminded the traders of their agreement with the state government.
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