15th March, 2013
Some owners of warehouses at the Ladipo International Spare Parts Market in Lagos lost about N12 million during the closure of the market for two weeks.
Mr. Abibu Oki, one of the market leaders, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.
According to him, there are 16 warehouses in the market and each one lost about N50,000 daily which makes it N11.2 million for the two weeks.
He said that there were other daily charges regardless of the closure of the market.
He said that the losses had caused setback to the warehouse owners, the traders and the Lagos State Government.
Oki blamed the traders for the closure of the market, saying that many of the traders were dirty.
He said that efforts by the leaders to prevail on them to keep the environment clean failed.
Oki urged the state government to restore sanity to the market through daily or frequent inspection instead of total closure.
Mr. Nze Nduegwu, the Vice President of the traders’ association, however, said that the traders were not responsible for the filthy environment.
NAN reports that the market, which was just re-opened, was closed by the Lagos State Government for unkempt environment. This was the second time the state government sealed the market for the same offence.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Public Works Corporation, LSPWC, has commenced repairs on major roads in the market.
Executive Chairman of the corporation, Mr. Gbenga Akintola described the ongoing repairs on the roads as “extensive maintenance work.”
Akintola explained that his men moved to Ladipo Street and Alhaji Akinwunmi Street last Friday following a directive from Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, to rehabilitate the roads.
“The repairs being carried out on these two roads shall be comprehensive and extensive as it involves drainage works and base preparation works which are already on-going. It is anticipated that other adjourning streets will also receive attention later,” Akintola disclosed.
These major roads are expected to complement commercial activities in that axis by aiding free movement of people, goods and vehicles, the LSPWC boss added.
P.M.NEWS gathered that the Corporation had commenced maintenance activities on 45 roads in 16 local government areas in the state.
Night maintenance works will also be carried out on Mushin-Itire Road, Surulere, Opebi roads and Salvation-Uturu axis, Ikeja.
The Corporation’s work schedule revealed progress on five drainage systems being constructed in four local government areas in the state.
The drainages include those being constructed at Love of Fatherland/Crystal Avenue, Oba Ogunji Road (Agege LG), Sapara Williams/Idowu Martins, Victoria Island (Eti-Osa LG), Randle Road (Apapa LG) and Akinsulere/Odogbolu/Iyarere streets in Surulere Local Government.
Roads to be maintained in Ikeja include Alade Avenue, Balogun Joseph/Olayinka streets, Opebi, Olaribiro Street, Otunba Jobifele Way and Hakeem Balogun Street.
Others are Edun Alaran in Ifako-Ijaiye, Onabu Road, Imota, Ikorodu, Marine Road, Apapa, Agidi Street, Alapere, Ketu, Odukoya Crescent, Akowonjo and King George V Road, Lagos Island.