19th July, 2016
Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Muslim Folami said this on Monday when he met with stakeholders of the market at the Government Secretariat at Alausa in Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
He lamented that the structure of the old Alade Market was obsolete and did not befit a mega-city like Lagos, saying that was why the government decided on the relocation of the traders to allow for modern development of the market.
Folami, who said he had visited the new site where traders were already relocating, said the place was well built with modern facilities to enhance the mega-city status of Lagos, adding that: “we don’t need a ghetto (old Alade Market) in a mega-city. Those traders who are still recalcitrant, that is their problem.”
The commissioner commended the traders who had already relocated to the new site, urging them to maintain peace as the state government was ready to support them.
Permanent Secretary, Local Government and Community Affairs, Jafar Sanuth urged the traders to appeal to those writing petitions against the relocation to maintain peace and key into government’s programme by relocating to the new market.
“You have to talk to them, they are your friend, talk to them to realize that we have peace in the market. In the old Alade Market, we have traffic gridlock and hoodlums have invaded the market. All those things will be a thing of the past in the new market.
“In the new Alade Market, people have places to park without being molested as there is adequate security. I am pleading with you to make good use of the market as maintenance of the market is very important,” he said.
The Iya-Oloja General of the Alade Market, Mrs Elizabeth Adenuga said majority of the traders had relocated to the new market and that those who were aggrieved were now about four traders, as others had keyed into government’s programme to relocate.
Also, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Master Reality International Concepts Limited, Lai Omotola, who is the concessionaire of the development of the market, said the company had so far spent N1.87 billion to build the new market which the traders were being relocated in order to pave way for the redevelopment of the old Alade Market into a mega mall at a cost of N6.9 billion.
Omotola, who spoke with newsmen debunked claims by aggrieved traders, under the aegis of Concerned Traders that the concessionaire forcefully ejected them from the market, saying that nothing of such happened as due process was followed in dealing with the traders.
According to him, the late Iya-Oloja General, Abibat Mogaji pleaded with the company to build an alternative market to relocate the traders, as he was supposed to build 300 shops but ended up building 504 shops to accommodate more traders at the new market.
He further debunked claims that the concessionaire brought thugs into the market to threaten traders, stating that: “there was never anytime we brought thugs into the market; that suggestion can only come from a mind that is mentally deviant.”
He added that the new market had two generators-350 KVA and 150KVA to provide power supply to the traders, while 20 toilets and 200 K-clamps had also been provided.