Traders, Marketers In Nasarawa Urged To Shun Planned Nationwide Protest
Traders and marketers in Nasarawa State have been urged to refrain from participating in the planned August 1st protest against bad governance in Nigeria.
They are rather advised to guard against activities of unscrupulous elements whose stock in trade is to take advantage of the protest to break into shops and warehouses to loot goods, as well as cause unrest in the state.
Turaki Gamji, Chairman, Nasarawa State Traders and Marketers Association, gave this advice during an expanded market stakeholders meeting held on Monday (July 29, 2024) in Lafia.
Gamji warned members of the association not to take part in the August 1st planned protest, as their warehouses and shops are likely to be target places for the protesters.
Gamji said the meeting was apt, as it provided an opportunity to educate the members on the impending loss to incur, if they were lured to join the protest, especially the heightening tension and prevailing hunger crisis in the country.
The traders and marketers were further urged to dissociate themselves from the planned protest in their best interest, as any acts or comments could further heighten tension in the society.
“We the traders and marketers association are not going to be part of the protest, because, in every protest, traders suffer the consequences the most.
“Hence why we are calling on the entire membership of Nasarawa State Traders and Marketers Association not to participate in the protest that is coming up on the first of August,” he said.
Yakubu-Ahmed Ubangari, the State Director General Market Management Bureau, said security would be provided to all the markets to protect the traders and their goods in the state.
“Government is not in support of any demonstration of any kind at all, for fear of its possible outcome.
“And to ensure the security of lives and property of the citizens, we in the bureau have mobilized security to ensure nothing happens to the goods of traders and marketers.
“Ours is to manage the markets, and as you know markets are where a lot of property and belongings of the traders are, we will ensure that nothing happens to your shops and goods.”
The Bureau DG, therefore charged security personnel to secure all the markets and be vigilant against any possible breach that would obstruct commercial activities in the State.
The expanded meeting of market stakeholders was conveyed by the Nasarawa State Market Management Bureau to conscientise the traders and marketers ahead of the planned August 1st nationwide protest.
The meeting had in attendance
Governor Abdullahi Sule’s aids on Markets, leaders of the Nasarawa State Traders and Marketers Association, Sarki Kasuwa of Lafia, and a representative of Vigilant Group of Nigeria and the Lafia Emirate council.
