The upgrading of the Katangua ICT Market may face further delays as the Lagos State Government insists that it has terminated its contract with the project’s consultant, Bridgeway Global Project Ltd.
Dr. Olajide Babatunde, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, visited the market over the weekend and stated that the consultant’s contract with the state government was terminated two years ago. He alleged that despite the termination due to non-performance, the consultant was still occupying and collecting illegal fees from the traders in the market.
The idea to relocate the computer village from Ikeja to the ICT Park in Katangowa in Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) was mooted by the state government in April 2017.
Dr. Babatunde explained, “We are trying to reorganize all our markets. I will give you an example. In Ikeja, we have a computer village. The computer village is being relocated. We are relocating them to Katangowa. It is not just the computer village alone. Other activities will happen in the Katangowa market.”
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Regarding the development of the new market, he emphasized, “It is illegal for the consultant or his representatives to collect any fees or money from anyone under the guise of the development of the market after termination of their contract. The Urban Development Department in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development headed by Mrs. Bola Bello has taken over the management of the project till further notice.”