The organisation said it had unravelled a ploy to trample on the rights to means of livelihoods of those affected with regards to the refusal to approve a market space for the A.I.A. Orilowo Perishable Foods Market Association of Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), to carry out legitimate business in the area.
The Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR) has called for respect for the rights of Lagos residents to freely associate and earn legitimate means of survival within the framework of extant laws and regulations of the state.
The organisation said it had unravelled a ploy to trample on the rights to means of livelihoods of those affected with regards to the refusal to approve a market space for the A.I.A. Orilowo Perishable Foods Market Association of Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), to carry out legitimate business in the area.
This is contained in a letter addressed to the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Mudashiru Idowu Obasa and signed by CHSR President, Comrade Alex Omotehinse.
According to the statement, A.I.A. Orilowo Perishable Foods Market Association has over 1,000 traders comprising market men, women, drivers and loaders whose means of livelihood are adversely threatened by the non-approval of the site for market operation by Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area.
The CSOs explained that the association has been seeking approval for a designated site within their secretariat.
It added that Agboyi-Ketu LCDA officials have deliberately refused to approve the site as requested by the association thereby subjecting their business activities to jeopardy.
CHSR, however, called for urgent intervention of the Lagos State Government through the State House of Assembly to avert the “looming negative consequences of the failure to approve the requested space for A.I.A. Orilowo Perishable Food Market Association to carry out their legitimate market activities”.
The letter reads, "We are compelled to intimate you about a pertinent issue that borders on the economic survival of a group of law-abiding market stakeholders in Lagos State and to demand that their rights to freedom of association and livelihoods be protected as envisaged under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the relevant laws of Lagos State to which your leadership of the legislative assembly is reputed to have demonstrated impeachable commitment.
"In line with CHSR statutory mandate, we received and investigated a complaint from A.I.A. Orilowo Perishable Foods Market Association of Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
"Following careful review of the petition and our subsequent findings, we unraveled orchestrated ploy to trample on the rights to means of livelihoods of those affected with regards to refusal to approve a market space for the said association to carry out legitimate business in Agboyi-Ketu, Lagos.
"We, therefore, wish to draw the attention of the Honourable Speaker to the underlisted verifiable material facts provided by the petitioners and which form the basis of our demands for their protection as citizens with rights to freely associate and earn legitimate means of survival within the framework of extant laws and regulations of Lagos State.
"The petitioners are members and traders under the umbrella A.I.A. Orilowo Perishable Foods Market Association with Certificate of Incorporation (Registration Number 178282) with Secretariat situated at Plot, 705 Ikorodu Road Adekunle Bus Stop by Owode Onirin Lagos State. The petitioners have been operating a market to serve the community in the same location for close to a decade.
"The petitioners wrote a letter dated May 16, 2022, to Agboyi-Ketu LCDA seeking approval of a designated site within their secretariat situated on Plot, 705, Ikorodu Road. Unfortunately, Agboyi-Ketu LCDA Officials have deliberately refused to grant approval as requested by the association thereby subjecting their business activities into jeopardy.
"The Executive Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA invited representatives of the association for a meeting where the request for the recognition of the association was again unfortunately denied without cogent reasons.
"A.I.A. Orilowo Perishable Foods Market Association has over 1000 traders comprising market men, women, drivers and loaders whose means of livelihood are adversely threatened by the non-approval of site for market operation by Agboyi-ketu LCDA.
"Notwithstanding unsubstantiated claims that certain cabals in the corridors of power in Lagos State are determined to frustrate the recognition of A.I.A. Orilowo Perishable Foods Market Association, we are however concerned that non-recognition of the association and refusal to grant them approval to operate a legitimate market can lead to social menace within the community considering the recent harsh economic conditions in the country.
"CHSR, therefore, calls for urgent intervention of Lagos State Government through the Lagos State House of Assembly to avert this manifestly looming negative consequences of the failure to approve the requested space for A.I.A. Orilowo Perishable Food Market Association to carry out their legitimate market activities.
"As an organization, we are convinced that A.I.A. Orilowo Perishable Foods Market Association having fulfilled requirements to operate a market should be given approval to operate within a recognised market in line with established rules and standards which the association is ready to comply with.
"We are therefore by this petition demanding the intervention of the Lagos State House of Assembly to call Agboyi-ketu LCDA and the relevant agencies to order with the view to actualize the approval of the requested space located at Plot, 705 Ikorodu Road, Adekunle Bus Stop by Owode Onirin Lagos State as operational base of A.I.A. Orilowo Perishable Food Market Association.”
"Your intervention will help in the alleviation of the sufferings of dependents who are mostly unemployed and may thus become vulnerable to social menace as a consequence of the destruction of the livelihood of family breadwinners," it added.