Row Over Sale Of Alade Market

Following plans to rehabilitate Alade Market on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, the Iyaloja and other stakeholders have kicked against such move.

Investigations revealed that a group of developers known as Masters Reality International Concepts Limited sponsored an advertisement in a handbill calling on prospective buyers to come and buy into the New Alade Market at a price ranging from N500,000 per square metre and a subscription of N10, 000 per stall.

This was said to have generated controversy among the traders.

Speaking on behalf of the traders, the Iyaloja of Alade Market, Madam Elizabeth Aina Adenuga, said that she is not part of the plan to sell or develop the market.

She said she is yet to be briefed by the executives of Ikeja Local Government or the department responsible for the day-to day running of the market.

While calling on the market women not to patronise any developer, she said: “I am yet to be briefed by the local government or any party concerned and as a representative of the market women and men, I consider the sale as illegal, null and void.”

Madam Adenuga said that when Tejuosho market in Yaba was about to be rebuilt, the Iyaloja and other stakeholders were briefed, adding that “this is what I don’t understand.”

When P.M.NEWS called at Ikeja Local Government secretariat, Wole Ogunlolu, the man in charge of markets, declined to comment on the issue.

The council manager also refused to respond to our enquiries.

Attempts to speak with the Chairman of Ikeja Local Government also proved abortive.

The owners of the Masters Reality Concept, who spoke through one of the staff that pleaded for anonymity, said that the issue was not for media consumption.

—Ayodele Lawal