TRADERS at the Alaba Rago commodity market in Ojo, a suburb of Lagos State, on Thursday, said that they had begun to experience shortage in foodstuffs and hardship following the demolition of the market.

The News Agency Nigeria (NAN) reported that the market, located at the Ojo end of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, was affected by the ongoing road expansion in the area.

NAN reported that bulldozers belonging to the contractor handling the project pulled down shops and warehouses used for stocking foodstuffs haulage into the state from the northern part of the country.

Mallam Shehu Shettima, a dealer in maize, expressed fears that the displacement of the traders would lead to scarcity of the commodity.

“The warehouses are no more here, it is difficult for traders to order foodstuffs from the north for lack of warehouse to store them before they are sold,” he said.

Also, Sani Dogo, a ram seller, said that the open space where he and other livestock dealers kept their livestock for sale had been demolished, leaving them in a state of despair.

“The situation is compounded with the commencement of the Ramadan that started on Thursday when Muslims are expected to fast for a month.

“Most businessmen, because of the demolition of the market, coupled with the fasting, will not want to bring foodstuffs and livestock to this place,” the ram seller said.

According to him, it will take traders in the market more than three months to overcome the destruction and seek an alternative place to trade.

Alhaji Idris Abubakar, another trader, who sells sacks and polythene bags, said that the demolition had brought him back to square one.

“I have no other job apart from selling sacks to commodity dealers. They have been paying my bills over the years. With this situation, there is no prospect in the near future,” he lamented.