Lagos Assembly summons stakeholders over Tejuosho market

Adunola Fasuyi, Lagos - 05.11.2009

Lagos lawmakers have summoned the Ministry of Physical Planning, Urban Renewal Authority, Surulere Local Government Council and Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area to appear before the Committee on Physical Planning to brief the House, with the details and relevant documents, on the new ultra modern Tejuosho Market.

The committee is given till November 19 to turn in its report to the House. The call was sequel to a motion moved by Hon. Dayo Fafunmi, representing Ifako-Ijaiye Constitutency I, on the sale of Tejuosho Market. According to him, the fee to be paid to secure shops in the market is beyond the reach of common traders, especially the original shop owners in the market. He alleged that the decision to hike allocation fees could lead to mega-inflation.
The chairman of the House Committee on Infrastructure further noted that per square metre of the market is billed to be sold for N700,000, meaning that a 10.8 square normal size shop will cost nothing less that N7 million.

Other members who spoke on the issue included Hon. Rotimi Olowo, deputy speaker, Hon. Lola Akande, Hon. Mufutau Egberongbe, Hon. Bola Badmus- Olujobi.

Hon. Akande said the prices were too expensive, adding that if the government did not want the masses to engage in street trading, it should make the market affordable to the people.

She opined that the same thing was happening in the housing sector where government houses were far beyond the reach of common man.

In his contribution, Hon. Onibiyo Adelabu disagreed with the position of other lawmakers, saying that none of the original occupants of the shops had lodged complaint about the amount of money to be paid to secure shops in the market.