Lagos State Government Engages With Computer Village Traders on Relocation Plan
....... We can generate millions from the market, but can't generate life, Governor Sanwo-Olu has directed us to work with you for understanding and inclusiveness - PS Oki
...... The relocation of the computer village market to Kotangowa was an outcome of negotiations between the traders and then Governor Tinubu in 2006 - Iya Oloja
The Lagos State government through the ministry of physical planning and urban development on Monday 22nd September 2025, held a stakeholders meeting with traders of the computer village market, Ikeja on the proposed relocation of the market to Kotangowa Abule Egba in Agbado Oke Odo LCDA of the state.
in his opening remarks at the well attended meeting, the permanent secretary office of urban development in the Lagos State ministry of physical planning and urban development Arc Gbolahan Oki, informed the traders and other stakeholders present that the relocation plan of the computer village market to it's agreed location in Kotangowa Abule Egba in Agbado Oke Odo LCDA which is now under construction, has been on for the past 15 years on a 15 hectares of land which is far bigger and spacious than the computer village. He made it known that the conversion of the residential area known as computer village in Ikeja, to a commercial business environment, was a violation and distortion of the master plan of Lagos which successive administrations have always harped on the need to correct by relocating the market.
According to Arc. Oki, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu being a listening and caring leader, directed the convening of the public stakeholders meeting in order to get the buy-in of stakeholders in line with his administration policy of transparency and inclusiveness. He informed the meeting that the conditions under which the computer village market was operating presently apart from being a violation of the urban plan of Lagos, was also harmful and dangerous to human life and property. He frowned at the indiscriminate construction of illegal stalls, trading on the roads, culverts, drainages and environmental nuisance which was a time bomb that needed to be averted.
Arc Gbolahan Oki noted that while the market can generate billions of naira, it cannot generate lives, and government being conscious of it's primary responsibility to the protection of life and property, can no longer close it's eyes to the looming danger of the operation of the computer village market which is glaring for all to see. The new ICT and business park market in Kotangowa according to the PS, will have modern market facilities such as accessible roads, parkings spaces for cars and trucks, health post, police post, hospitality center, inconvenience centre, among others. He also introduced the developer whom the government has chosen as it's preferred partner for the development of the ICT and business park Kotangowa Abule Egba in Agbado Oke Odo LCDA and called on the traders to send in their representatives for further discussions on the modalities of the market which is under construction, just as he appealed to the traders to be prepared to move as soon as it is completed.
In her contribution, the Iya Oloja of the computer village market chief Mrs Abisola Azeez, thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for directing the holding of the first public stakeholders meeting with traders on the proposed relocation of the computer village to Kotangowa Abule Egba in Agbado Oke Odo LCDA, which she admitted is a product of an understanding and agreement reached between the traders leadership and the Lagos State government under the leadership of the then Governor, but now President Bola Tinubu in 2006. She promised that the relocation being a mutual agreement between the government and the traders, will be complied with accordingly.
In her own video and graphics presentation, the project coordinator and a director in the office of urban development Mrs Olayinka Bello while showing the inhuman and environmental hostile state of the computer village market, showed images of the new location with the shops and other facilities to be put in place such as accessible roads, vehicular parking space, hotel, police post, inconvenience centre, fire service post, etc. She noted that the new ICT and business park market in Kotangowa, Abule Egba in Agbado Oke Odo LCDA is accessible to all because of public facilities within the environment which has been put in place by the government, among which is the BRT terminal and buses for convenient commuting.
The contractor for the project also made an oral presentation and asked willing traders to buy into the new market by taking ownership now, and engaging on the modalities for the proposed market which is undergoing construction.
The Lagos State government and computer village traders stakeholders engagement drew a large crowd of participants which included government officials led by the PS office of urban development Arc Gbolahan Oki, the acting General Manager of LABSCA, builder Mrs. Florence Gbaye, the General Manager of Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency, Townplanner Oladimeji Animashaun, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on urban development, Mr Segun Williams, Director office of urban development Engr. Jebe, and other directors and officials of the ministry, security agencies personnel, community and traditional leaders, civil society organizations leaders, youth groups, leaders of the computer village market association led by the Iya Oloja Chief Mrs Abisola Azeez, the Baba Oloja Chief Adeniyi Olasoji, Igbo leader Chief Nwakeze, ethnic minorities leader Mr Shadrach, Yoruba leader Mr Bunmi Osunrayi, other executive members and traders.
Some of the traders spoken to by our correspondent, while expressing gratitude to the Lagos State government for the public engagement which is the first of its kind in the market with the traders, however expressed their wish that the government would be able to effect the relocation in record time because of previous expectations which were dashed.
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