The chairman, Niger State Market Union, Alhaji Abdullahi Sharu Achida, has called on the Niger State government to abide by an earlier agreement and move the market early January.

The chairman said that they had earlier reached an agreement with the government to move the entire market and not to start the evacuation peace meal. He said the sudden decision to demolish 200 of the shops was not part of the agreement.

Achadi said the decision would not only disrupt normal business in the place but would put many people out of business, as he explained that the new site was yet to be completed.

"We call on the state government to stick to the earlier reached agreement to remove the whole market at once and not in batches. We are ready to leave but the new site at the Western bye-pass is yet to be completed," he stated.

Said he, "We shall continue to remain law abiding and will not do anything to scuttle the peace in the state. Government should bear in mind that any attempt to dislodge traders without first providing alternative arrangement will affect the source of livelihood of many families."

The chairman also asked government to consider a review of rent for the shops, adding that the least prize for a shop was N420,000 and the highest was N2.6million.

He said less than 70 per cent of the traders could afford the rent.

He said that they needed a total of 5,380 shops before movement of traders could commence.

He said that relocating the market was already causing medical problems for some of his union members as some had developed hypertension.