Francesca Odimgbe
The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the new ultramodern Alaba Rago Transnational Market in the Iba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the State, saying the development was in line with its administration’s market transformation moves of the THEMES+ development agenda.
The new Alaba Rago Transnational Market, when completed in the next two years, will comprise of over 5,000 shops, an event hall, banks, a hotel, a fire station, an abattoir, a place of worship, a sewage treatment plant, a police post, a recreation center and a parking arena, among others.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his Special Adviser on EGIS and Urban Development, Dr. Olajide Babatunde, assured traders whose shops were demolished for the re-development of allocations once the project is completed within the next 24 months.
The Governor called on all factions in the market to support the contractors handling the project for speedy completion.
He said: “We are here today to work together with the Alaba Rago community on the revitalisation, redevelopment and renewal of the Alaba Rago Transnational Market.
“The market has been here for a very long time, and the state is becoming deteriorated, and after series of stakeholder meetings between us and the Alaba Rago people, including Mr. Governor, commissioners, special advisers and community leaders, we eventually come up with the idea that Alaba Rago must be renewed and must be given a rebirth and that is why we are here today.
“We have just laid the foundation stone for the new Alaba-Rago Transnational Market. This market is a market to be built solely for the Alaba Rago people. It is not for people from the outside. This market belongs to Alaba Rago people. The Alaba Rago people have agreed to work with us, and the market would be rebuilt.”
He assured that all the concerns raised by the property owners and traders would be attended to by the Lagos State Government to protect their interests.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Kayode Robert, who oversees market management in the State and the Chairman of Iba LCDA, Mr. Yisa Jubril, thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for bringing development to the grassroots, which they believed would create more job opportunities and beautify the aesthetic of the area when completed.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on eGIS and Urban Development, Hon. Sylvester Ogunkelu, assured the people of Alaba-Rago Market that the new market being constructed is for their benefits and implored them to work closely and partner with the government for the success of the project.
In their remarks, traders in Alaba Rago Market, who spoke through the leaders, the Baba Oja of Alaba Rago Market, Alhaji Ali Ibrahim-Malami, and the Deputy Sarkin of Alaba Rago, Alhaji Adamu Umar Katagum, called on the Lagos State Government to have a written Memorandum of Understanding with the market leadership to serve as assurance to them that the new shops when completed would be allocated to affected traders and property owners in the market.
They also appealed to the State Government to ensure that the interests of property owners and traders are protected when the new ultramodern Alaba Rago Transnational Market is completed.