Kunle ADELABU
-Assures them of supports
It was yet another opportunity for the major stakeholders in the economic sector of Ikorodu division to interact with their elected representative as officers and members of Association of Market Men and women in Ikorodu Constituency parleyed with the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the representative of Ikorodu Constituency I, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade.
At the meeting, which took place at the lawmaker’s Constituency Office along Awolowo Way,Ikorodu Grammar School, Oke Ota –Ona, Ikorodu, on Saturday, July 28, 2018, various market representatives presented their challenges and areas where they need the intervention of the lawmaker.
About 100 market women and men were led to the meeting by Alhaja Olayiwola Fatuga, Iya-Oloja, Ladega market in Ikorodu Local Government, Alhaji (Chief) Adisa Jaiyesimi, Baba-Oloja General, Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Chief Wera, Baba-Oloja, General, Ikorodu North LCDA and Mrs Adewunmi Lamidi, the Secretary-General, Market Women & Men Association, Ikorodu.
At the meeting, representatives of various markets from the three councils in Ikorodu Constituency I took their turns to state their challenges and expectations from the government and their representative.
Hon. Agunbiade, while welcoming the market people, thanked them for their contributions to the social, political and economic developments of the state and Ikorodu division in particular.
The three term lawmaker informed the traders that he would be unveiling a new package to support their businesses.
“We have been redesigning our package for the traders and very soon we shall unveil it. It’s our resolve to from-time-to-time get in touch with you and give you necessary supports because of the vital roles that you are playing in our lives” , he stated.
He assured that the government is doing everything possible to provide support and enabling environment for them.
“I thank you for this visit and for the continuous supports and encouragement that you have been given to my representation, our party and the the government.
“Your roles as the driver of our economy are not measurable. We are aware of your usefulness and importance. As your representative and as a government, we shall continually support you and create the enabling environment for your businesses to thrive.
“You have been making use of your representatives by continually engaging us on your challenges and expectations. And this has put us on our toes. If you are not asking us questions and bringing our attentions to your challenges, there is no way we can know where and how to intervene.
“I have listened to your challenges and requests and we shall see to them. We are going to ensure that those within our powers are done and where necessary, we shall liaise with your chairmen in respective council areas to get them address such.
“On the Ladega market request for street light and security, we are going to see to how we can address the challenges as soon as possible.
“We are all aware that security is something our governor is not joking with at all and his government has done so much to make the state more secured and safe.
While addressing the members of Agunfoye market on their request for construction of a modern market, the lawmaker stated that most of the council are engaging services of developer in market development.
He promised to relate with the concerned council chairman on their request.
Hon. Agunbiade, while responding to the request by members of Alake market on assistance in retrieving the parcel of land allocated to the market but which was allegedly sold by an individual, assured them that such person would not be allowed to go away with property of the entire community.
He added, “There is no way such person can sell such land since he does not have the Certificate of Ownership and other necessary documents pertaining to the land”.
While responding to the call by the traders from Agbede area of Ikorodu North LCDA on the need for the government to urgently rehabilitate the deplorable road in their area, Hon. Agunbiade assured that there is a plan by the Ambode government to tackle developments in Ikorodu division which include road rehabilitation and construction.
He recalled how he and other stakeholders like Princess Aderenle Ogunsanya and Hon Lanre Balogun picked Agbede road to Lagos/Ibadan expressway when sourcing for alternative road for the division.
“After going round the division, we finally settled for this road which we believed would serve as an alternative route in and out of Ikorodu. This was presented to the then governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, who accepted and direct that work should start immediately”, Hon. Agunbiade recalled.
“But unfortunately, our people protested to my house and office and accused me of attempting to take away their houses when officials from the Ministry of Works moved into site and started pegging to create right of way for the road.
“This was how we lost that intervention which would have opened up Ikorodu and safe us from the menace of the militants that we endured until the emergence of Gov. Ambode.
“He has not only dislodged the militants permanently, he also set in motion the process of opening up Ikorodu with the award of Agric/Owutu/Arepo road rehabilitation.
“We should appreciate the governor for this and for the Igbogbo/Bola Tinubu/Igbe road that is also under construction. These are big projects and when completed, they would impact greatly on the social and economic developments of the division.
He,however, assured the traders that he has been pushing for the construction of the Agbede road and other roads.
“We have been pushing for the construction of Agbede/Ita Oluwo road and other roads in the division, but for now, let’s us focus on the ongoing ones and soon,we shall intensify action for the construction of others by seeking the state government’s attention”, he promised.
