By Akinwale Kasali
The Lagos State Government has ordered traders at the popular Computer Village, Ikeja, to relocate to the new site at Katangowa, Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area within 18 months or face prosecution.
The relocation of Computer Village traders from Ikeja to Katangowa have been in the offing for years.
The move to relocate the money-spinning market began during the former Governor, Babatunde Fashola administration, but never came to reality.
During the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode Government, it also paid lip service to the relocation threat.
The Lagos State Government under Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has said that anyone who fails to relocate to the area will face the full wrath of the law.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Gbolahan Oki, in a statement while speaking at a stakeholders meeting held at the market with the traders and their executives, spoke about the new verdict and riot act by the LASG.
“The government wants your cooperation to ensure the relocation comes to pass. The time is now. We have to make the project a reality. The relocation period is 18 months,” he said.
Oki stated that the State Government has put necessary facilities in place at the new location to make the place conducive for the traders, adding that the present location in Ikeja was formerly a residential area, which, over the years, had been converted into a trading centre without Government’s approval.
He further added that the plan to relocate the traders to Katangowa had been on since 2006, but due to the slow pace of the development work, the relocation suffered setbacks.
He told the traders that the stakeholders’ engagement was to carry them along on the Government’s plan, adding that Governor Sanwo-Olu believes in inclusiveness and the welfare of the people.
He said: “The governor is passionate about the development of the infrastructure of Lagos State, and he wants all of you to be aware of the relocation. Katangowa is a place chosen for everything relating to this market. It’s 15 hectares of land. It is near all the materials you need for your business.
“The present location used to be a residential area and so many things are attached to this place. Where the government is taking you is well laid-out and we want all of you to know what the relocation is all about. We want to work with you and plan the relocation together. Everyone wants change but there are things that will affect us if we are going to experience that change.”
Olayinka Bello, the Project Coordinator stated that the new location has been designed to accommodate some infrastructures such as a Police Post, Hotels, and accessibility to the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, terminal for easy movement.
Corroborating Oki, Abisola Azeez, the Iyaloja of Computer Village, said the executive of the market, in 2006, reached an agreement with the then Governor of Lagos State now President, Bola Tinubu, to relocate the market to Katangowa and urged the traders to abide by the government’s decision to relocate them within the period.
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