The urban renewal drive of the Lagos State government took a higher leap as Oshodi is becoming a community of envy, courtesy of redevelopment drive by the government.
Just last week, leaders and traders at Mosafejo Market in Oshodi Isolo Local Government Area of the State agreed with the plan of the State Government to redevelop the area.
Speaking at a stakeholders meeting with officials of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development in Alausa, the traders and market leaders said they were in total support of the plans of the State government to regenerate Oshodi and by extension Mosafejo Market into a standard transport interchange and more befitting market.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Anifowoshe Abiola a town planner, speaking at the meeting stated that there is strong need to redevelop the area.
According to him, commencement of the urban regeneration of Oshodi was informed by government’s desire to see the area being transformed into a world class Central Business District (CBD), and obliterate completely, chaos that characterised it in time past.
According to the commissioner, the redevelopment will drive commerce and investment into Oshodi, urging the traders to embrace the plan, saying that the government would assist the affected shops owners to get alternative shops and maintain their businesses
The market leaders and traders, who also consented to the redevelopment commended the state governor “for his foresight,” but pleaded that government pay them compensation so as to enable them rent new shops, resettle and re-commence their normal businesses.
Speaking on behalf of the traders, the deputy Baba Oja of Mosafejo Market, LukmanIshola expressed gratitude to the government for what he attributed to “his magnanimity and prompt response”.
The Iya-Oja, Kehinde Esther said the market executives had dialogued and agreed with the state government on the redevelopment plan and there is no form of resentment from the traders, they are excited about the plan.