The Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Muslim Folami, has stated that the relocation of the Alade Market is irreversible, while commending the traders who had relocated to the new site.

The commissioner, who disclosed this recently at a meeting with some stakeholders of the market at the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, urged the traders who had moved to maintain peace as the State government is ready to support them at the new location.

He said the structure of the old Alade market did not befit a mega city like Lagos, adding that it was part of the reasons the government decided to move the traders to a new site to give room for modern development of the market.

The commissioner explained that the new location was well built with modern facilities to enhance the mega city status of Lagos, adding: “We don’t need an old-fashioned market in a mega city.”

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Sanuth Jafar, in his remarks, implored the traders to talk to those writing petitions against the relocation to maintain peace and key into government’s program by relocating to the new market.

“You have to appeal to them to talk to each other, so that peace can reign in the market. In the old Alade Market we had gridlock, and hoodlums usually invade the market. All those things will be a thing of the past in the new market,” he noted.

Responding on behalf of the traders, Mrs. Elizabeth Adenuga, the Iya-Oloja General of the Alade Market, assured the government that majority of the traders had relocated to the new market.

Other dignitaries present at the meeting include the Sole Administrator of Ikeja Local Government, Taiwo Abiodun; Chief Executive Officer of the concessionaire of the market, Lai Omotola and others.

•Photo shows Alade Market, Ikeja Lagos, before its demolition.

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