Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the new ultra-modern Alaba Rago transnational market in the Iba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the state, saying that the development was in line with its administration’s market transformation moves of the THEMES+ development agenda.
The new Alaba Rago Transnational Market, scheduled for completion in the next two years, will comprise 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 centre and a parking arena, among others.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his Special Adviser (SA) on EGIS and Urban Development, Dr Olajide Babatunde, while speaking at the event, assured traders whose shops were demolished for the re-development of allocations once the project was eventually completed.
The governor, however, called on all factions in the market to support the contractors handling the project for speedy completion.
“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 deteriorates, and after a series of stakeholders’ 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 outside. This market belongs to the Alaba Rago people. The Alaba Rago people have agreed to work with us, and the market would be rebuilt,” he said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu assured that all the concerns raised by the property owners and traders would be attended to by the 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, expressing the belief that such would create more job opportunities and beautify the aesthetic of the area when completed.
Also speaking, Chairman, 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 was for their benefit, imploring them to work closely and partner with the government for the success of the project.
The Baba Oja of Alaba Rago Market, Alhaji Ali Ibrahim-Malami, and the Deputy Sarkin of Alaba Rago, Alhaji Adamu Umar Katagum, who spoke on behalf of the traders in Alaba Rago Market, called on the Lagos State Government to have a written Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 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 were protected when the new ultra-modern market was completed.
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