No Plan To Demolish Ladipo Market, Says Council Boss

Lagos State Government, yesterday, assured traders in Ladipo Market that it has no plan to demolish the market.

Reports were making the rounds early in the week that the state government partially demolished some parts of the structures for the commencement of demolition plan by the government.

Executive Secretary of the Council, Mr. Jide Bello, at a media briefing in his Mushin office, said, “Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has no plan to demolish the market, the local council developer only moved in to take ownership of the market, but we have no plan to demolish the market.”

According to Bello, the council’s plan as contained in an agreement earlier reached with the traders, was to redevelop the market in phases which construction is to last a period of three to five months.

“Therefore, to commence the redevelopment plan, bulldozer of the developer moved in on Tuesday, business activities had continued in the Ladipo market unhindered and the traders are presently at their stalls carrying out their business transactions.”

He explained that the Local Government decided to redevelop the market, which had become an eyesore due to the unwholesome activities of some of the traders and the degradation of the surrounding which did not fit into the megacity plans of the state.

He said the Mushin Local Government intended to undertake the development of the market in phases and because of that, had not collected any form of rent from the traders in the market since the beginning of 2015.

He assured traders that current owners of stalls would be given priority as long as they can provide valid ownership papers once the construction is completed.