4th May, 2015
Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Lagos State Government says there is no going back on the planned relocation of the popular Computer Village in Ikeja and the Mile 12 Market.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Toyin Ayinde, said Mile 12 Market along with Ajelogo and Akinmode markets would certainly be relocated to Parafa in Ikorodu to decongest traffic on the expressway.
Ayinde, at a ministerial press conference in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, said the plan to relocate the Mile 12 Market and others was to ease traffic congestion and forestall environmental degradation in and around the present location.
“The relocation, when eventually actualised, will benefit from the effectiveness of the ongoing road expansion from Ketu to Ikorodu Town. Also, the new regional market when established will be expected to serve as a catalyst for socio-economic development of Ikorodu and its environs,” he said.
According to him, efforts were on to ensur effective monitoring of the proposed site from further encroachment.
“To date, the perimeter survey of the site has been prepared, preliminary studies have also been carried out while stakeholders’ engagement is ongoing,” he said.
On the relocation of Computer Village to Katangowa in Agbado Oke-Odo, the commissioner said a presentation of the proposal had been made to the State Executive Council and the Innovation Council, adding that the conceptual plan of the Internet City and business park had been adopted.
“A forum of the stakeholders in the ICT sector, financial institutions, including Africa Development Bank and Ikeja Computer Village Traders Association was held in November 2014 where the stakeholders assured the state government of their support for the project.
“Existing ICT infrastructure in the vicinity of the project that will facilitate the envisaged activities have been identified. Developers of Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area, LCDA who built the existing shops were settled in line without of court settlement agreement in 2014,” he explained.
Ayinde said as part of government’s commitment to the project in the provision of support infrastructure , a major link road-Ahmed Muhammed and Abubakar roads, to the project site had been approved for reconstruction and expansion.
He added that the award of the reconstruction and expansion is undergoing procurement process