Lagos Traders Showcase Wares At Carnival

Thousands of market men and women in Lagos State, South West Nigeria, thronged the Police College last week to mark the first Lagos Market Carnival.

The occasion was used by the traders to showcase their wares to the public as many of them brought fish, yam and snail, among others, to show to the public.

Most of them were decked in Ankara fabric, danced and rejoiced greatly that they were being recognised for the first time in the state, culminating in the carnival.

The carnival was put together by the Lagos State Market Development Board to give a sense of recognition to market men and women in the state.

Deputy Vice Chairman of the board, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, said the two-day carnival was geared towards educating the market men and women on their responsibilities and contribution to the society.

“The carnival presents a meeting point to help us know the challenges facing our market system with the aim of providing lasting solutions. It also affords us the opportunity to appreciate the contribution of our market people to the economy and reward them accordingly.

“This will be an avenue to educate and assist our traders on how to get loan facilities from banks and other financial institutions in the country and corporate bodies can also launch and showcase their products and services to the traders and get direct feedback of what the people think about their services,” she stated. Speaking at the occasion, Fashola alerted commodity traders, market men and women on plans by some unscrupulous persons promising to set up traditional open space markets at illegal or unauthorised locations, especially through blocking or sand filling canals with sawdust, which according to him, could lead to disaster.

“I appeal to you to liaise with our authorised market leaders and relevant government agencies before you take any step regarding your business,” he warned.

Fashola also commended the traders for closing up shop for one day to register during the voter registration exercise, urging them to come out en masse during the elections and vote for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidates in all the elective positions available.

“This is time for the Broom Revolution to sweep away all the ‘sweepa-ables’ because our great party will stand by you and ensure that you enjoy a brighter, rewarding future in the mega city of Lagos State,” he said.

He commended the state’s Market Board for putting together the carnival, urging the thousands of traders who graced the event to seize the opportunity “to rub minds, share experiences for mutually beneficial economic enterprises that will generate job opportunities and wealth creation through the market chains of producer-distributor-consumer at affordable rates.”

The governor, however, said the high cost of acquiring market space at the new markets being constructed by the state government had no sinister motive but for the benefit of the market men and women who intend to do business in the area.

Fashola, whose speech was read by the Deputy Governor, Princess Sarah Sosan, said the cost was not intended to deprive interested persons the opportunity from acquiring space in the market, adding that government’s plan for the market was to serve the interest of the people and “not to harm your business in any way.”

“When we move people in order to develop a market, we are doing that for your safety, comfort and prosperity. We are modernising the markets to provide the entire infrastructure that will attract more customers to patronise your goods,” he added.