The Kwara State Road Traffic Maintenance Agency(KWARTMA) has explained the reason for the relocation of the dealers of second hand wears popularly known as 'Post office Sunday-Sunday market'

The agency said the reason was to prevent accidents and traffic congestion.

The Chief Executive Officer, KWARTMA, Mr Yekeen Babatunde Ballo in a telephone interview with The Herald yesterday on the circumstances that led to the relocation of the traders to four different locations in Ilorin, explained that government never established a market at post office.

"All that the state government is after is for security of lives and property and to ensure that there is orderliness in the way we do our things.

"The attitude of the traders and customers patronising the fairly used wears market constituted nuisance and break down of law and order at the area.

"There is always break down of law and order in the area (post office area)on every market day (Sunday) when the traders displayed their goods.

"And government can no longer tolerate this, the government now constituted a committee that consisted of the government representatives, security agency, the leaders of the traders association and other relevant stakeholders to proffer solution and alternative".

He added that the traders were given the opportunity to choose from four market alternatives and advised them to relocate within four months grace to the four selected markets approved by the state government.

He said that the alternative markets given by the government for the people to relocate to included, Kulende modern market, Ago market, Oko Olowo market, and Mandate market.

The Chief Executive Officer who said that most of the traders have relocated their goods and market to the approved places, warned others to comply or face the full wrath of the law.

He disclosed that the government had provided the basic needs, such as toilet facilities, water, parking space among others to make live more bearable for both traders and customers.

One of the traders (names withheld) who spoke to The Herald at the Kulende market location, yesterday expressed joy over the development, but appealed to government to improve security in the markets.

"We want government to rescue us from the illegal tax collectors. We pay huge amount of money to illegal tax collectors who hide under local government tax collection. "We also want the security agencies and government to stop the hoodlums from invading the market to collect illegal money from us".

One of the patroneser told The Herald that the relocation of the traders would reduce accidents and traffic congestion, but appealed to government on provision of adequate security of lives and property.