Traders operating at Garden Parks in Kano State have accused the state government of abandoning them after the demolition of their trading spaces, alleging that locations they were promised would be restored following renovation have instead been allocated to other individuals and businesses.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday evening, Chairman of the Traders Association, Hon. Salisu Lili, said the traders had operated at the location with government approval before their business spaces were demolished.
Lili alleged that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had promised that their trading spaces would be restored after the renovation exercise. However, he claimed that the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change subsequently allocated the spaces to other people.
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The chairman disclosed that the association had submitted six complaint letters to the Kano State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change but had yet to receive a response.
He said the demolition had caused significant financial losses to members, who were now facing additional hardship over the alleged reallocation of their former business locations.
Similarly, Chief Executive Officer of Fine Time Garden Park, Hajiya Fatima Abdussalam Umar, said she had operated at the location for more than 30 years alongside other traders affected by the demolition.
Umar alleged that six companies that were not members of their association had been allocated spaces previously occupied by the displaced traders.
She appealed to Governor Yusuf to intervene, review the allocation process and ensure a fair resolution that would address the traders’ grievances.
The traders urged the state government to clarify the status of the demolished spaces and consider their claims, insisting that those who operated at the location before the demolition should be treated fairly.
The allegations could not be independently verified from the information available, and no response from the state government or the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change was included in the account.