The Lagos State Government has rolled out a flexible payment option to support traders ahead of the long-anticipated relocation of Computer Village from Ikeja to Katangowa in Agbado-Oke-Odo.
The announcement was made during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Alausa, where government officials, developers, and market leaders discussed the next phase of the project.
According to the Permanent Secretary, Office of Urban Development, Arc. Gbolahan Oki, the relocation aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision to create well-planned urban spaces and eliminate years of unregulated development in Ikeja.
Oki noted that the Katangowa site, covering about 15 hectares, will feature modern facilities including a police station, fire service post, trailer park, hotels, banks, and other key amenities to ensure traders operate in a safe and organised environment.
He reaffirmed that the project remains a top priority for the Sanwo-Olu administration, which had earlier given traders an 18-month window to move to the new location.
Project developer, Sam Ajose, said the flexible payment arrangement was designed to make the relocation less burdensome for business owners, ensuring that every trader has an opportunity to secure space at the new market.
Representing the traders, Iya Oloja of Computer Village, Abisola Azeez, commended the initiative, expressing satisfaction with the government’s efforts to address traders’ initial concerns. She urged the developer to maintain transparency and adhere strictly to project timelines.
Azeez also highlighted ongoing efforts within Computer Village to promote accountability and improve security, including a biometric registration exercise launched earlier in the year to identify legitimate traders and curb criminal activity.
She added that the new operational rules would allow only registered vendors to operate, while temporary stalls would be limited to non-flammable materials to prevent fire hazards.
With the new relocation framework in place, both the government and market leaders are optimistic that the move to Katangowa will mark a new era of orderliness and growth for Nigeria’s largest tech hub.
