Shomolu traders indict Tinubu’s daughter over extortion by market leaders

Traders in the Shomolu area of Lagos State have decried their alleged exploitation by authorities of the market, saying that the activities of the leaders are making life unbearable for them.
The traders, who alleged that the market leadership frequently extorted them, said each of the traders occupying the 200 shops in the market, irrespective of his or her financial capacity, paid N500 every month for the payment of salary to the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Chief Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo.
In addition to the N500 monthly levy meant for paying Tinubu-Ojo’s salary, the market authorities, it was learnt, also compelled each trader to pay another N5000 levy monthly towards the burial of the mother of the Iyaloja General for Shomolu, Mrs. Dupe Adefowoba.
The traders added that any trader who failed to pay the levies, would have his or her shop locked up or his goods impounded.
Our correspondent gathered that the market executives made it compulsory for every trader to pay N3000 end of the year fee, which is set aside for organising yuletide party for the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Tinubu-Ojo.
It was also learnt that the traders were also mandated to pay other levies, including the weekly N300 toilet fee, Aje fee, Baale levy, mony for Divisional Police Officers in all the four police divisions in Shomolu and Bariga areas, LASTMA fee, KAI fee, LAWMA fee, amongst others.
Speaking to our correspondent, a brother to the Iyaloja General of Shomolu, Lukman Oshikoya, who is also a trader at the market, said, “I have been complaining to my sister about the extortion of the traders, but she’s always taking offence. The issue almost caused crisis within the family.
“Every month, we pay N500  to Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Chief (Mrs) Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, as her monthly salary. We also pay N3000 for end of the year party for the Iyaloja General Nigeria. These are levies we don’t get to benefit anything from.
“The people have complained to me and I can feel their pains. I am also a trader in this market. We know what many of us go through to sell our markets every day. Sometimes some may not even make any sales.
“Now, they say they must pay N5000 for the burial of the mother of Shomolu Iyaloja General and anybody who does not pay before this Thursday, would have his or her shop locked up or will not be allowed to display the goods, for those who don’t have shops.”
Corroborating him, another trader, simply identified as Mama Peace, said, “The market executives are not being considerate at all. We pay a lot of levies in this market, yet they are not satisfied. What is end of the year fee for Iyaloja General Nigeria? Why that money? Apart from that, we are forced to be paying KAI fee, LAWMA, Baale and DPOs’ fees. And if you calculate the monies we pay on weekly basis, it is more than N5000, apart from major levies. This is too difficult for us, especially we petty traders,” she said.
Efforts to reach the market Iyaloja General for Shomolu Market to get her reactions to the traders’ allegations against her were not successful. She was not available as at the time of filing this report.