In a bid to avert displacement of thousands of traders from Alaba Rago international market, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reversed the 14-day quit notice issued to traders and other shop owners within the trading arena in Ojo Local Government by the state through a joint team of Rapid Response Squad and Lagos Taskforce.
Sanwo-Olu was said to have directed that the traders and shop owners continue their legitimate businesses at the market pending when a formal agreement and development plan would be reached between both parties.
The Governor was said to have stepped down the ultimatum during a meeting with the Hausa leaders including Seriki Hause of Lagos, Aminu Dogara, and his Vice as well as the Seriki Fulani of Lagos, Mohammed Bambado, who led the traders and shop owners to meet with him at the State House in Ikeja.
During the meeting, the leaders were said to have appealed that the governor uses his prerogative of mercy to lift the order placed on the market which was expected to elapse on June 2nd, 2022.
While speaking at the meeting, they stressed that the traders and shop owners do not engage in criminalties, and the insecurity claims attached to the market were perpetrated by visitors to the market.
He was said to have appealed that the governor should be allowed traders who sell legitimately at the market to continue their trading activities at Alaba Rago market.
Speaking to The Guild on Thursday on the outcome of the meeting held behind closed doors, the Babaloja of Alaba Rago market 1, Ali Malami, disclosed that the governor stepped down the quit notice and directed that they continue their businesses during the meeting held on Monday.
Malami said that the governor gave the traders assurance that the market would not be brought down on the approved date and that there would be more engagements between the government and traders as well as shop owners.
According to him, We had our meeting on the ultimatum last Saturday and two days after, Monday, we met with the governor at the State House. And during the meeting, the governor said that there will be more meetings between the government and traders where processes of developing the market will be discussed effectively.
Meanwhile, he distanced the traders and shop owners from the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi and claimed that those behind the case were not leaders of the market.
“The suit filed does not represent the interest of we traders. We do not know them. We are with the government because we believe that Lagos State Government has right to control who occupies any part of the state and that is why, rather than drag the government to court, we have decided to dialogue and ensure that the quit notice was lifted.
