Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday, met with
\nmarket leaders from Alaba, Trade Fair axis in Lagos West senatorial
\ndistrict. The consultative meeting, which was at the instance of the
\nGovernor and coordinated by the Managing Director Fidelity Bank, Mr.
\nNnamdi Okonkwo, lasted for about 90 minutes and it was centered around
\nthe State Government’s plans to improve security and upgrade
\ninfrastructure around the markets.<\/p>\n
Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Gov. Sanwo-Olu said the
\ndiscussion was aimed at fostering collaboration with the traders and to
\ncarry them along in the plans of the Government. The Governor said he
\nwas pu satisfied with the conditions under which businesses were
\nconducted in the markets, expressing disappointment over the state of
\nroads and absence of relevant public facilities around markets. In
\nfulfilling his campaign promises to the traders, Sanwo-Olu said his
\nadministration was prepared to change the condition by investing in
\ninfrastructure that would improve the quality of lives and commercial
\nactivities in the area.<\/p>\n
He said: “We have just finished an interactive meeting with the leaders
\nof various markets around Alaba, ASPAMDA, Trade Fair areas in Lagos West
\nSenatorial District and the discussion was coordinated by our friend in
\nthe banking sector, Fidelity Bank. We all agreed that we all have roles
\nto play to address infrastructure and other challenges around the
\nmarkets. As a government, we are taking up the responsibility to design
\nan all-inclusive model that will improve the economic wellbeing of
\npeople around the markets. Once we put infrastructure in place, not only
\nwould businesses flourish, employment will also be created.” Aside
\nconstructing network of roads surrounding the markets, the Governor said
\npart of the Government’s long-term plans was also to complement the
\nefforts with provision of amenities, including fire stations, clinics,
\ngeneral hospitals and security protections that would aid commercial
\nactivities in the markets.<\/p>\n
Sanwo-Olu said the market leaders agreed to work with the Government on
\ndocumenting all businesses in their respective jurisdictions, which
\nwould facilitate easy payment and collection of tax for developmental
\npurposes.<\/p>\n
The Governor said: “we had conversations around being socially
\nresponsible. So, we will see the traders living up to the expectations
\nin terms of doing what they are meant to be doing to support government
\nin the areas of their taxes, wages and levies. We also want to eliminate
\nmultiple taxations; any agency that is not meant to be around the market
\nwill be stopped.<\/p>\n
“We also discussed security issues, and I assured that government would
\nhelp to improve on the security of lives and properties in the area and
\nthe state in general. We will address the menace of Okada riders all
\naround those markets. We will also ensure that the work that is going on
\naround Lagos-Badagry Expressway is well coordinated, so that they can
\nhave some relief at various periods of the day, even when construction
\nis going on.”<\/p>\n
The Governor said the meeting would not be the last in his engagement
\nwith the market leaders, pointing out that Chairmen of local councils in
\nwhich the traders operate would be invited to subsequent discussions
\nbefore the start of regeneration work across the markets within the
\nsenatorial district.<\/p>\n
Fidelity Bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, hailed Sanwo-Olu
\nfor partnering with the market leaders to drive the regeneration
\nprogramme, saying the Governor understood the importance of engagement
\nin leadership. According to him “Fidelity Bank was one of the first
\nbanks to open in the area and we understand their challenges from the
\nextensive engagements we do have with them. We bank most of them and
\nwhen there are issues we come together to interact and find solutions.
\nThis is exactly the approach that Gov. Sanwo-Olu is using today. The
\nGovernor has outlined a course of action and we also use our knowledge
\nof their needs and working in collaboration with the government, to come
\nup with a model that will work for all stakeholders. The traders are
\nready to take this collaboration to the end and make sure they have
\nbetter market conditions so when they want to pay their taxes, they will
\npay them happily.”<\/p>\n
President General of Alaba Amalgamated, Chief Fabian Ezeojika, said the
\ndiscussion with the Governor and his Deputy was fruitful, promising to
\nmobilise traders to respect the agreement made with the State
\nGovernment.<\/p>\n
Markets and dealers represented at the meeting included Alaba
\nInternational Market, Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association
\n(ASPAMDA), BBA Trade Fair, Alaba Fancy and Furniture Dealers, and
\nElectrical Dealers Association of Nigeria (EDAN), among others<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday, met with market leaders from Alaba, Trade Fair axis in Lagos West senatorial district. The consultative meeting, which was at the instance…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":69917,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-69916","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n