By Our Reporter
Lagos State Government on Wednesday allocated 180 shops to the beneficiaries of the redeveloped transnational market, Alabo Rago in Ojo Local Government of the state.
Giving the allocation letters to the beneficiaries at an event which took place at the office of Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA), the Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on E-gis and Urban Renewal, Dr. Olajide Babatunde, said the former occupiers of the shops were given first right of refusal.
He said that as beneficiaries, the state government gave former occupiers the concession of paying 60 percent as instalmental payment, with the balance expected to be paid over a period of six months.
Babatunde said the state went into partnership with financial institutions to develop the market, adding that development of markets in the state was in line with the promises Governor Sanwo-Olu made to the people of the state and in accordance with his administration's THEME Plus Agenda.
"We are keeping all the promises, you know, which are part of the dividends of democracy.
"Governor Sanwo-Olu, under the THEME Plus Agenda, we are developing 21 markets around Lagos, some of which are: Alaba Rago, Katangwa Market, Pelewura, Jankara, and a couple of other markets.
"You know that we're doing around the city. So this particular one is the biggest cattle market in the whole of West Africa. It's called Alabarago, but we have transformed it into an Alaba Transnational Market," he said.
Babatunde said the state government conceived the plan of building 3,000 market stalls in Alaba Rago, adding the state government had also constructed 1.2 kilometer of road to link the market with the main road.
The governor's aide said shops on the ground floor goes for N13 million each, while those on upper floor goes for N10 million each, but quickly noted that the amount each shop was sold by the state government were at subside price.
The Special Adviser added that those that can't afford to pay 60 percent as initial deposit, may be given the opportunity of paying 25 percent as initial payment, saying that such was more advisable than to pay 60 percent as initial payment as, according to him, that will be more convenient to offset the payment.
He, however, appreciated all those agencies that partnered with the state government to make the project a reality.
"I would like to say thank you to the Lagos State Building Control Agency, the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency, United Bank of Africa, the Debt Management Office, the Ministry of Finance, up to the Office of the Accountant General of Lagos State," he said.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Alhaji Hussain Mohammed Lajawa, Chairman,Central Alaba Rago Market commended the state government for her initiative in developing the market to a standard one.
Alhaji Lajawa said they started having discussions with the state government on developing the market in 2022, expressing joy that the state government made good her promise.
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