…following meeting with Imo Gov. Uzodinma
…Deputy House Speaker also present
By Anthonia Umonsiole
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has set up of a Joint Working Committee to resolve concerns about the recent demolition of properties in the Alaba International Market and some other trading outlets in the state.
Sanwo-Olu made this known following a meeting with Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ben Kalu, in company with representatives of Igbo trader groups in Lagos on Friday.
Large segments of trader groups in Lagos State had become agitated about the demolitions and expressed the view that they were aimed at certain ethnic groups and had undesirable undertones.
Addressing the media afer the meeting with Imo Governor Uzodinma and others, Sanwo-Olu said some of the misconceptions surrounding the actions of the Lagos State Government had been dispelled and that the committee established would take a second look and correct “negative media reviews”.
“We just finished a meeting between myself and the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma and the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Kalu and other market leaders of our various Igbo markets in Lagos, some community leaders and also some state government officials.
“The meeting had gone on successfully, we discussed issues around common interest, especially issues bordering on the recent demolition around Alaba Market, where there has been a lot of wrong information and communication.
“Our conversation here this afternoon has cleared the air; we have seen that indeed there is a need for us to further collaborate. Where wrongs have been expressed, we have corrected all of the issues and the views and we have jointly set up a small working committee that will go round, verify and see things for ourselves and be able to put all of the negative information and media review out correctly,” he stated.
He asked the traders to go about their businesses without let or hinderance, assuring them that the Lagos State Government would continue to provide an enabling environment for business to thrive and would be accommodating of their interests and points of view.
For his part, Governor Uzodinma thanked Sanwo-Olu for his warm reception and considerate stance on the concerns raised and for promptly setting up a committee to address them.
“Like His Excellency the Governor has said, myself, the Deputy Speaker and other leaders of the Igbo business community in Lagos, having raised some concerns over some policies that had to do with environmental cleanliness and construction of essential and critical infrastructure to enable businesses to boom and how those policies have been implemented, which raised some complaints from our brothers and sisters living in Lagos, we came on a delegation to speak to the governor and bring those concerns to his notice.
“He indeed listened and proactively and immediately set up a technical committee that will look into the way those issues are being handled and ensure that nothing is seen as a deliberate policy to hurt any interest.
“And he has guaranteed our brothers and sisters in Lagos of his protection and they should go back to their businesses as there is no fear of any molestation and no policy will be targeted against them or against their business interest and I am so happy and grateful that the governor gave such quick response to our concerns,” he stated.
