The Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners Forum (ABMPF) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene following the recent demolition of Alaba Rago Market in Lagos State.
In a statement issued by its chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi I. Yelwa (Ajiyan Yauri), the forum expressed concern that the exercise had displaced thousands of traders, many of them from the North, who depend on the market for their livelihood.
According to ABMPF, traders lost goods and property estimated at over ₦20 billion, while several places of worship were also affected. The forum alleged that the demolition was carried out without adequate consultation or notice to allow traders safeguard their assets.
“The Alaba Rago Market has been a hub for trading activities for over 80 years and holds cultural and economic significance to many communities,” the statement read.
The group urged the Lagos State Government to reconsider its approach by providing compensation and relocation support to affected traders. It also appealed to Northern political, traditional, and religious leaders to engage constructively on the matter to protect the rights and welfare of their people.
ABMPF emphasized that Nigeria’s diversity is a strength and called for measures that promote inclusivity and peaceful coexistence across all regions.
