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Tag: Ladipo

  • Lagos shuts Ladipo market over environmental offences

    Lagos shuts Ladipo market over environmental offences

    Lagos state government has ordered that Ladipo Market be shut down over environmental offences, including reckless waste disposal, unhygienic premises, and non-payment of waste bills, among others.

    The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who gave the order, said the market would remain closed until the mandatory conditions of redress are met by the traders and market stakeholders.

    He added that it was part of ongoing efforts at instilling compliance in markets around the state.

    He said: “It is imperative that markets adhere strictly to environmental laws and regulations put in place for the well-being of residents. The closure of Ladipo Market serves as a stern reminder that no entity, regardless of its size or influence, is above the law.”

    Wahab reiterated that the government is fully committed to collaborating with market stakeholders to facilitate necessary adjustments and improvements, to enable them to meet required environmental standards. He added that the market will not be reopened for business until set standards are met.

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    “Ladipo Market, a prominent hub for automotive spare parts and related services, has been a focal point for environmental concerns due to various activities that contravene established regulations. LAWMA’s intervention is a significant step towards rectifying these issues and bringing the market to compliance.”

    Managing Director of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the closure is to allow for a thorough assessment of the environmental impact of the market’s activities, and the implementation of necessary remedial measures.

    He stressed: “This serves as a clear signal that LAWMA would not hesitate to take decisive actions, where and when environmental laws are flouted.

    “As Lagos State continues to grow and develop, it is imperative that economic activities are conducted in a manner that is sustainable and environmentally responsible. LAWMA’s recent actions demonstrate its commitment to this cause. The offensive against environmental infractions will continue till sanity is restored in our markets, while the next stop will be illegal markets.”

    Other markets which have been shut include Oyingbo, Alayabiagba, Oke-Odo, and some sections of Tejuosho Market, for serial infractions.

  • Lagos to fix Ladipo market link roads

    The Lagos State Government has said it would fix the link roads in Ladipo market to ensure free flow of traffic in the area.

    Deputy Director, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Sina Thorpe in a statement yesterday, said the government had decided to rehabilitate and upgrade the roads to a dual carriage way.

    He said the government realised the economic value of the area, which is a 2.87km road, connecting Agege motor road to Apapa Oshodi Expressway service lane at Toyota Bus stop.

    Thorpe, in his response to a report in a paper about traders lamenting the state of roads in the area, said the government was also rehabilitating and upgrading Alhaja Akinwunmi Street, which connects Ladipo Street to Apapa Oshodi Expressway at Five Star Bus stop; Obagun road, which links Badejo Kalejaiye street with Fatai Atere Way and also connects Ladipo Street with Agege Motor Road.

    He added: “To ensure the interconnectivity to the network of roads and ease traffic in the corridors, part of the ongoing expansion and upgrading of the Oshodi International Airport Road would see the provision of a U-Turn ramped bridge to serve the motorists in the area.”

    He urged road users and commuters along the corridors to cooperate with the contractor in order to speedily deliver the road projects as scheduled, while mindful of their present albeit temporary discomfort.

  • Ladipo traders use prayers to promote peace

    Ladipo traders use prayers to promote peace

    THE Chairman- elect of Akinwunmi Traders Association (ATA), Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market, Mushin, Lagos, Hon. Kelvin Ejike Nwaduba, has promised to organize a prayer committee that will help in bringing traders together every first Monday of the month for three hour prayers to promote fear of God, peace and progress in order to avoid unnecessary hatred and bickering among traders.

    Hon. Nwaduba made this promise during the swearing in and issuing of certificates to the elected members of the union executives by the secretary of the electoral body Hon. Onyeka Igwe.

    Those elected include Hon. Ejike Kelvin Nwaduba as chairman, Chibuike Ujubonu as secretary general, Anayo Ede as assistant secretary, Okezie Kanu as the financial secretary, Mercel Idiemezie as treasurer, Chimezie Ezeagu as public relations officer, Festus Ezezie as provost, Okwudili Okeafor as assistant Provost and Paulines Egwu as welfare officer.

  • Fire guts 40 shops at Ladipo Market

    About 40 lock-up shops with auto spare parts worth millions of naira were yesterday destroyed by fire at the Ladipo Market in Mushin, Lagos.

    Lagos State Fire Service Director, Mr Rasak Fadipe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the fire started around 1am.

    NAN reports that on April 20, more than 50 shops with assorted vehicle spare parts were burnt at the Osoro Section of the market.

    Fadipe said when his office learnt about the inferno, fire fighters were unable to access the place because of the clash that happened in the area during the night.

    “We got a call around 1.20 a.m, but we could not move into the complex at Odushina Street, Papa-Ajao, Mushin, scene of the fire due to a fight going on in the area.

    ‘‘The Divisional Police Officer at Olosan Police Station, Mushin, led us with his patrol vehicles to the scene before we were able to put out the fire at about 4.46 a.m.

    “There were no cases of death or injuries recorded from the inferno.

    “My men, however, saw some people with blood all over their bodies, which they suspected were injuries from the fight, “ he said.

  • We don’t sell stolen parts, say Ladipo traders

    We don’t sell stolen parts, say Ladipo traders

    AUTO parts traders at Ladipo, Lagos, denied yesterday that stolen goods are sold in the market.

    They said the claim by two suspected robbers that the market is a haven for stolen goods “is untrue”.

    Addressing reporters at the Ladipo Central Executive Auto Dealers Association (LACEL) office, the traders said the suspects – Uche Nwosu and Emma Samuel – were not their colleagues.

    Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Dealers Association President Kingsley Ogunor said the suspects “are not our members. They are not traders. For you to be a trader in Ladipo Market, you must have an identity card and a shop”.

    Ogunor added: “Again, we don’t buy or sell stolen goods. We sell only foreign used auto parts otherwise called Tokunbo.

    “We have measures to checkmate stolen products. If you want to come inside the market with stolen auto parts or cars, you cannot pass the gate. We monitor auto parts coming in and going out of the market, which is done by a task force.”

    Ogunor lamented what he called the police’s inability to track down the suspected killer of their colleague, Anene Utazi, 70 days after his death.

    He said they were waiting for justice to be done on the matter.

    Ogunor said: “On February 18, a gang of about 60 hoodlums led by one Ijoba attacked our people in the market and demolished our shops. In the process, several of our people including customers sustained injuries. Among the injured are Okwuchukwu Nwoye, Monday Nweke, Chinonso Chukwuami and Utazi.

    “Utazi was rushed to Mushin General Hospital and later referred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) where he died on February 25.

    “Our petition to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Zone 2 led to the arrest of three persons including Chigozie Obi. They have been arraigned before Chief Magistrate O. Kushanu at Igbosere on Lagos Island.

    “We are appealing to the police to redouble their efforts in the arrest and prosecution of the ring leader, Ijoba, because over 200 traders have gone to their villages as they have no place to trade again and those still around only come to look at their market as a football field as all the debris has been cleared.”

    LACEL Vice President Jude Nwankwo demanded compensation for the affected traders.

    The chairman of the demolished market, Mr Maxwell Chukwuma, said traders lost goods worth millions of naira to the crisis.

  • Ladipo traders protest colleague’s death

    Ladipo traders protest colleague’s death

    LADIPO auto parts dealers trooped out yesterday to protest the death of a colleague, Anene Utazi, in last Thursday’s clash at Odo Aladura Market known as Bakassi market.

    Carrying placards with inscriptions, the traders marched to the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway causing traffic gridlock.

    They accused a security guard at Matori Cemetary of leading some hoodlums to attack them last week.

    Vendors’ food and drinks were snatched by hoodlums, who hijacked the protest.

    A trader, Uche, said: “We knew him to be a cemetery attendant before he went into market business. He is very diabolical and that is why they once suspected him for tampering with parts of dead bodies. When he started business in the market, he sold every space he laid his hands on. He forcefully collected money from container owners offloading. I pray he is apprehended.”

    Another trader, Ikechukwu, said he appreciated the steps the traders took because the guard has been bragging that police cannot arrest him.

    A trader, Christopher, said the guard and his gang were lucky not to have been caught by the traders.

    Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni, who was at the market yesterday, pleaded with the traders to be peaceful.

    Vice president Ladipo Central Executive Committee (LACEC), Mr. Jude Nwankwo, said the guard had been terrorising the market for over five years.

    He said:”They drove traders out of their shops and when they asked what the problem was, nobody said anything.

    We are appealing to the governor and the Commissioner of Police to investigate the matter because we can’t continue to trade in fear.”

  • Three feared dead as Ladipo traders fight contractor

    Three feared dead as Ladipo traders fight contractor

    Three persons were yesterday feared dead and over 20 wounded when Ladipo auto parts market traders clashed with a contractor engaged by Mushin Local Government.

    The traders from the Bakassi section of the market wielded machetes and bottles, firing guns sporadically into the air as they trooped to the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.

    They harassed motorists and pedestrians and drove out the contractor’s workers from the market.

    They were initially dispersed by policemen, but returned after the police left.

    The police returned to restore normalcy around 6pm.

    The traders were fighting the contractor, which is reconstructing shops in Bakassi section because of the fear that they may lose their shops after the reconstruction.

    Traders going home raised their hands before being allowed to pass through the troubled spot.

    A trader said they were afraid because anytime such exercise is done, the original shop owners always lose out to the rich.

    He cited the reconstructed Ladipo main market which he claimed had been hijacked by money-bags.

    Another trader, Chukwuma said: “We are not against reconstruction or modernisation of our market, our fear is that our shops will be taken over by rich traders in the name of reconstructing the market. The contractor was a trader before he embarked on an exploitative reconstruction of the market to make money.”

    Another report said the crisis was caused by tussle over ownership of a portion of land in Bakassi.

    It was gathered that armed thugs stormed the place to forcefully eject traders.

    A trader, Chukwuebuka Kamsi, said: “There has been a lingering quarrel between a family that claims to be owner of the Aladura market popularly called Bakassi, at Ladipo and some residents/traders.

    “Without any prior notice some thugs came at about 10am while we were just opening for the day and ordered everyone to pack their goods out. Not done, they started breaking bottles and threatening to kill anyone who refuses to leave. Some of us hurriedly closed our shops while others engaged them in a fight. It took the presence of armed policemen who fired sporadically into the air to disperse the thugs.”

  • Reconstructed Ladipo auto market opens next month

    Reconstructed Ladipo auto market opens next month

    Ladipo Ultra Modern International Auto Spare Parts Market, Mushin, Lagos, which was demolished in October,last year, for reconstruction, will be opened next month, its developer Chris Onyekachi Simon, has said.

    He broke the news during a sensitisation rally by members of the market association.

    Simon, who is the Managing Director of Total Value Integrated Service Limited, said when completed, the market, would boast of about 1,000 shops, with modern facilities, such as toilets, a parking lot, canteen, bathrooms and adequate security.

    The market, he said, has opened its doors to applicants who want to get shops, saying that his firm  would assist buyers who do not have enough money to pay by linking them with a bank, provided they are able to pay the half of the amount. He said the shops are relatively cheap compared to others in the state as buyers are expected to buy them off, and not rent them.

    Noting that the market is the largest in West Africa, he said it would remain the best. He alluded to the crisis that trailed the demolition of the market with many claiming that the state government wanted to take it over from the traders, among other allegations. “All thanks be to God who started the project. We meant well for the people. I am happy and they are happy. When completed, they will have their shops back,” he said.

    The market’s association Chairman, Kingsley Ogunor said the rally was aimed at informing its members and others in the market that the union has not sold out as some claimed, but that true to its words, it has been rebuilt. He said what happened last year was that the 70-year old lease agreement between the traders and the government had expired and the government wanted to use the opportunity to rebuild the market.

    Unfortunately, he added, many people did not understand the situation and thought, the government was on a take-over mission. ‘’But in the spirit of change, we are moving forward,’’ he said, adding that priority would be given to traders.

    Simon and Ogunor thanked the state government, Executive Secretary, Mushin Local Government, Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress, Lagos State, Joe Igbokwe and others for their roles in resolving the crisis.

    A member of the association Jude Igwilo confirmed Ogunor’s words. “Now the government should keep its words and remember the traders,’’ he added.

  • Lagos City Marathon: Ladipo commends organisers

    Rafiu Ladipo, the Chairman of Nigeria Football and Other Sports Supporters Club, has praised the organisers of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon for the publicity they accorded the race.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the marathon, an initiative of the Lagos State government, was sponsored by Access Bank and supported by Eko Atlantic City, Eko Hotel/Suites and Lucozade Sport.

    Ladipo told NAN that he was impressed with the “comprehensive publicity’’ given to the event which created the much needed awareness and attracted fans from within and outside the country.

    “The media has not only done their job, but did a remarkable coverage worthy of commendation; I am impressed because a large number of fans from even beyond this nation are watching.

    “Some people are physically present at various venues to cheer the competitors, while others are watching it on their television sets and phones because it is aired live,’’ he said.

    He, however, recommended that subsequent editions should be made to hold on national environmental sanitation days to give more fans the opportunity to be part of it.

  • Council resolves dispute with Ladipo traders

    Council resolves dispute with Ladipo traders

    Mushin Local Government Area yesterday said it has resolved the dispute between it and traders at the Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market.

    The council’s Information Officer Olusegun Akinyemi said the disagreement over the market’s re-development has been settled.

    This, he said, was made possible by the intervention of concerned eminent Igbo personalities.

    He quoted the council Executive Secretary Babajide Bello as saying that the allegation that the council was interested in taking over the market was not true.

    Bello said: “In the first place, the market belongs to Mushin Local Government. The traders are our tenants. We are concerned about their general well being. When the market is finally redeveloped, it is these same traders that will occupy the place.

    “Every genuine shop owner in that place will have their shops back without any stress. Those who wish to have new shops after redevelopment will approach the council for terms of acquiring their own shops.

    “We have been on this reconstruction move for over two years. It has nothing to do with politics or ethnic colouration.

    “All we are particular about is an acceptable, sane, cleaner and safer environment for buying and selling, where all will be proud and free to patronise.

    “The environment of the market needs to be sanitised. We are involving all the stakeholders in order to avoid frictions. The dream of a Mega city for Lagos State must be met.”

    According to Akinyemi, one of the terms of truce is that the traders needed additional three months to organise themselves so that the developer can move into the market on October 1.

    “This is the third time we are giving concession to the traders, because we are flexible and concerned about their welfare. We are in a democracy; everybody must be carried along. It was also agreed that the development will take place in two phases for the convenience of the traders.

    “In fact, trading activities will not be affected significantly because the traders will remain in the market while construction work takes place.

    “It was also agreed that all the legal issues concerning the re-development of the market be withdrawn forthwith,” the council said.

    The council said it was further resolved that the traders would not molest any of the workers or council official who may visit the market during the redevelopment.

    The statement said those at the meeting included former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja Branch chairman Onyekachi Ubani; Acting Chairman of the Conscience Group Emma Onyilofor; All Progressives Congress (APC) spokesman in Lagos Joe Igbokwe; Chairman Board of Trustees of the market, Mazi Chukwuka Nnamdi; Chairman, Ladipo Traders Association Kingsley Ogunor; a Council Manager Mr Rasaq Oladeji; Council Legal Officer Peju Akin Ajayi, among others.