Ufomba Uzuegbu
10 May 2004
Lagos — TRADERS have renewed appeal to relevant tiers of government council to repair all the access roads linking Alaba International market.
Respondents in a survey by Alaba International Market Digest said the deplorable condition of the road has become a source of worry to the traders who also complained that the bad condition of the roads had almost cut them off from other communities in the council area and paralysed trading activities in the market.
The call was made against the backdrop of perennial traffic congestion on all the major roads for sometime, forcing customers to avoid the market and make their purchases elsewhere. So far,the early rains have had their toll on the roads, particularly Ojo-Igbede/Alaba-Rago roads which have literally been washed away completely.
Before the rains, the roads were passable but presently most of them have developed deep gullies while others have been taken over by flood.
Commenting on the issue, a trader in the industrial section, Mr. Obi Okafor said government should do something about the roads before something terrible happens, noting that the Ojo-Alaba road and Alaba-Rago road were the only access through which goods come into the market.
According to him, if the authorities of Ojo local government council do not intervene and arrest the situation it might force them out of business.
"Alaba International market contributes significantly to economic development of Lagos State. It is also one of the biggest markets is the country. The government should come to our aid," Mr. Okafor added.
The Managing Director of Alaba-based Pianeer Carpets Limited, Mr. Pius Amaechi said "we do not record good sales anymore because our customers now avoid the market as a result of the bad state of the road. And if nothing is done about the roads, sooner or later, the entire market would be cut off from other communities in this part of Lagos."
A trader in the Electrical Dealers Association of Nigeria (EDAN) Mr. Ben Izundu said the traders had on their own spent huge sums of money to repair the roads, stressing that it is now the turn of government to play its own role.
Said he "government should repair the roads. At the same time, Ojo local government council should address the problem of the absence of a garage because that is contributory to the perennial traffic congestion experienced in the market on daily basis.
"The only garage in the market was sold some years ago, yet the council had not been forthcoming in providing us with a functional garage to alternate the one that was sold previously under circumstances that were less than desirable.
A market leader, Chief Ikechukwu Ikwuneme (Ochiagha) believes that the solution to the traffic jam in the market lies in upgrading Ilufe road to serve as an alternative exit route for the Alaba International Market community.
"This community has witnessed an unprecedented population explosion in recent years. The existing infrastructural facilities especially roads have proved grossly inadequate to cope with the human and vehicular movement here. But if the road is upgraded, motorists plying the area would divert to it whenever the ever-busy Alaba-Ojo-Igbede road is blocked," he added.
Ilufe road is an important link between the St. Patrick's Church bus stop area and Densine Plaza on Ojo-Alaba road through Mosafejo area of Alaba International Market.
Chief Ikwuneme regretted that the market was lacking in the area of basic amenities and facilities which befit its status as the largest electronic products market in the West Africa subregion.
He said "government should look at all these and provide us with facilities which would enhance trading activities in the market community."
When Alaba International Market Digest visited, the traders were in depressed mood bemoaning the tragedy the poor state of roads had inflicted on them. The question is, should the local government sit back and look the other way while its golden goose which is Alaba International Market rot away? The consensus in the market is that the local government council should be alive to its responsibility.
The traders decried a situation whereby they pay their market levies to the local government council without the council reciprocating by way of discharging its civic obligations.
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