Govs. Fashola and Okorocha visit Ladipo market; expect market to be opened in hours

Posted By TheScoop on March 8, 2013

by Stanley Azuakola

For the second time in a week, the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola visited the closed Ladipo auto spare parts market on Thursday, this time in the company of his Imo state counterpart, Rochas Okorocha.

The duo were received at the market by the State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Tunji Bello and senior officials of his ministry amidst cheers from the expectant traders.

READ: Fashola Visits Ladipo Market, Lists Conditions For Reopening

Fashola was consistent in his position that the market would be opened once the identified problem with it is solved. He raised the hopes of the traders when he said: “I think we will get to the end of this in the next few hours hopefully. I think before this week is over this should be done and we should get back to work.

“This is a joint effort now and not one team that is doing it or one group. You and your government are working together and your cultural and political leadership to solve a problem that we commonly identify and once that is done, I think business should open her.”

READ: Capital Oil Boss, Ifeanyi Ubah Storms Ladipo Market After Meeting Gov. Fashola

The Lagos and Imo governors inspected the drains and the frontage of the market.

Gov. Fashola insisted during the visit that the state government has no problem with the traders and want things to be sorted quickly so they can return back to their daily commercial work. He said that the traders have a responsibility to ensure that their activities do not hamper the daily activities of other stakeholders in the area.

“The properties owners here who are your landlords and your neighbours must also be able to come to their homes and go about their business while you are doing your own business,

“The factories here must be able to operate and keep our young people at work while you are also doing business. This is the way that all of you will generate the revenue that I need to fix this road.

“As you have said, the things speak for itself, our developmental efforts in Mushin has stopped there because the contractors could not access this place. Now if you are taxpaying citizens, how can we develop and leave you behind. So what you have asked for, the upgrade of this road, the restoration of the street lights is the easiest thing to do and it will follow as of course,” Fashola said.

READ: Ladipo Market Closed By Lagos Govt, Demands N70million From Traders (Photos)

On his part, the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha who addressed the traders earlier, said:

“So, I came in here to see for myself and everything is quite explicit that there is need to keep the place clean. We, the Ibos are known for cleanliness. Those of us in this market should not be an exception to that.

“I see that there is a need to clean the gutter and clean this place and so it is not necessary that the Governor says you must clean up and then move back. There is a relationship between you and him and he is saying make your place better for your own good”, Governor Okorocha added.

He charged the traders to eschew all forms of factions but to be united and also cooperate with the Lagos governor so that he would have the opportunity of coming back with him for the launching of the new Ladipo market that is provided with electricity, good road network, water and all that the people may desire, stressing that he is convinced that Governor Fashola would do it for them.