Months after the demolition of Computer Village in December 2023, traders and residents are still counting their losses, with many saying the action has left them devastated.
Once regarded as the heartbeat of Nigeria’s technology market, the popular hub has been reduced to rubble, and those who made their living there say their lives have been thrown into chaos.
“I invested all my savings into this shop. Overnight, everything was gone without any form of compensation,” said a mobile phone dealer, struggling to hold back tears. “I have a family to feed, and now I don’t even know how to start again.”
Another trader, who sold computer accessories, described the demolition as a death blow to his business. “This market was our livelihood. Thousands of us depended on it, and now we are left stranded. We were not even given an alternative space to relocate,” he lamented.
Residents in the area also shared their frustration, noting that beyond the loss of businesses, the demolition displaced families who had lived in the vicinity for years. “It is not just shops that were destroyed, people’s homes and sources of income vanished too,” a displaced resident explained.
The traders are now appealing to the government to provide compensation and a clear plan for their resettlement. “We are not against development, but government must remember that people’s lives are tied to these markets. We need support to survive this hardship,” one electronics seller pleaded.
For now, many of the former shop owners have resorted to roadside trading, while others remain jobless. The once-bustling Computer Village, which served as the country’s largest tech hub, stands as a shadow of itself, with its community left in uncertainty.
