By Anthony Adgidzi, Akwanga

Traders in Akwanga, headquarters of Akwanga Local Government Area of Nasarawa State staged a protest match recently against the decision by the local council to relocate them from the present market site to a new one.

A cross section of the traders who spoke to Nigerian Newsday said the council was not considerate in its decision. They complained that the council decision was too sudden.

The traders also said they had no enough funds to erect new shops adding that the timing for the relocation was wrong as it is now rainy season.

The aggrieved traders matched through major streets in the town calling the Director of Personnel Management (DPM), of the council, names.

The prostesting traders also matched to the new site of the market where there destroyed some of the structures being erected by some traders who were complying with the council decision.

Addressing those traders whose structures were destroyed, the DPM, Mr Jerry Santas accused police in the area for allowing the protest, even as he claimed to have requested the police to stop the protest for fear of it turning violent.

Mr Santas said the decision to relocate the market was made about thirty years ago because the presence of the market at the present site causes vehicular and human traffic congestion, due to the proximity of the market to the Abuja-Jos Road.

Mr. Santas explained that the relocation has become necessary now because the congestion has become very problematic, causing avoidable accidents, as well as delay for long journey travelers.

The DPM said the relocation would guarantee free flow of vehicles, goods and people in the heart of Akwanga town, pointing out that the new site is more specious.

Mr Santas said, there was enough space at the new market for all the traders to erect their shops and not display wares by the road side or in a make-shift structures as is the practice in the old market.

He stressed that any trader who refused to comply with the decision of the local council before the stipulated time would have him or herself to be blame.

It would be recalled that the Akwanga Local Government council had given traders up to September 26, 2008 to relocate to the new market along Lafia Road.