NAN-H-18
Protest
Chinyere Bassey
Lagos, Oct. 30, 2017 (NAN) The Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria (FIWON) is to stage a protest in Ikeja on Tuesday to voice their resentment over daily harassment of traders by the State Government.
The Secretary-General of FIWON, Mr Gbenga komolafe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday that the protest would start from Ikeja Bus Stop and end at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
He said the rally was to protest unending harassment of traders by officials of the State Government, a development, he said, was harming the traders and making them poorer.
Komolafe said the rally would also be used to commemorate the UN World Cities Day.
He said the rally would also demand protection of the basic human rights of self-employed people, who were being harassed daily on the streets of Lagos.
The unionist called for the resettlement of traders whose shops were demolished and wares seized by over-zealous state officials.
According to Komolafe, the traders, including mechanics and hawkers are daily contending with intimidation, extortion, eviction and imprisonment.
He described some hot spots of the demolitions as Victoria Island, Lekki, Ajah, Ikate-Elegushi, Daleko, Alade, Owonifari and Ilubirin.
He said that many people took to the informal sector because of job losses, noting that the harsh economic climate in the country had made matters worse for many Lagos residents.
”Traders ejected from demolished markets cannot afford to rent new shops because of high cost. This is sad,” he said. (NAN)
CHIN/SN
=======
Edited by Silas Nwoha