Lagos, firm seal deal on Sandgrouse market reconstruction

The Lagos State Government and DHB Construction Limited and representatives of the market on Fridaysigned an agreement to commence the redevelopment of the Sandgrouse Market, located at Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area, Lagos Island.

At the signing of the agreement at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, Principal Private Secretary to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Mr. Abiodun Bamgboye, who spoke on behalf of the state government, said the purpose of convening the meeting was to ensure that all stakeholders in the market were carried along the redevelopment plan.

Bamgboye said, “Today is somewhat symbolic in the history of the state and it also goes to show some of the concerns of government especially in ensuring that things are done with the consent of all stakeholders.

“The information that we have on hand, on the part of stakeholders, is that Sandgrouse Market men and women, in agreement with the Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area as well as DHB Construction Limited, will want the place redeveloped to really meet the modern needs of the market.

“So, the intent of our gathering is to ensure that this assignment is done and then for all to see the agreement and for all stakeholders to put their hands on paper to agree on it for the redevelopment to take place.

“We are thinking on the future that is better than the present; that is why we want the place to be redeveloped.”

Responding on behalf of the traders, Iyaloja of the market, Alhaja Abibatu Kenku, said consultations on the project had been ongoing for a while, adding that a consensus to rebuild the market was reached after a meeting with the Iyaloja General of Lagos, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo.

She said all stakeholders and traders in the market were duly consulted and there was a unanimous agreement that the market be redeveloped.

On his part, Chairman of DHB Construction Limited, Mr. Hakeem Alobo-Bakare, said with the recent agreement, the traders would be relocated to a temporary site next week, where they could continue to carry out their activities to enable the total redevelopment of the market to commence.