The Lagos State Government has refuted allegations that it deliberately set fire to the Oko Baba plank market in Ebute Metta to dislodge traders and residents.
In a statement released on Monday, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, clarified that the fire was a result of the government’s efforts to relocate the market to a new location in Agbowa, Ikorodu.
According to Omotoso, the residents and traders had been occupying the Oko Baba market illegally and had refused to relocate to the designated new site.
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The government had made significant improvements to the new location, including constructing a road and providing accommodation for the traders.
“The operation was carried out by LASBCA,” Omotoso said. “We have relocated them to a new market in Agbowa, but some of them refused to move there. They complained that the road linking the market was not good, and the government constructed an alternative road for them. They were also provided with accommodation.”
The commissioner emphasized that the government’s decision to relocate the market was necessary due to the environmental hazards and safety risks associated with the existing location. The market had been prone to frequent fires and extended under the Third Mainland Bridge, posing a threat to the bridge’s integrity.
Omotoso assured the public that the government would continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of all residents and would take necessary measures to address any environmental concerns.