By Olasunkanmi Akoni

LAGOS—Lagos State Government has relocated 500 displaced traders  affected by the demolition of properties along Mile 12,Ikorodu Road, for the construction of a  Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, corridor.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State disclosed this yesterday, during the third enlarged stakeholders meeting at Majidun, Ikorodu Road, with the former deputy governor of Lagos State, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, former state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Ayodele Elesho, among others in attendance.

According to Fashola, represented by his Special Adviser on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga: “They were displaced during the construction of the road and that was why we have decided to construct Oluwo-Idikan Market to relocate the traders. This is in fulfilment of the promises made during the demolition of the market. Our aim in Lagos is to ensure that everyone has a source of income.”

He, however, warned residents against conversion of road setbacks into market places.

Fashola lamented that residents have converted walkway on the 13.5 kilometre Mile 12 Ikorodu Road constructed at N29 billion into trading zones, saying, “This is a huge fund and we are not happy that such project is being used for the purpose it was not designed for.”

He said: “Many traders have converted the walkway into trading venue and this is not the reason for the inclusion of the walkway in the project, rather it was included to allow residents who want to walk have access to do so.”

Fashola noted that after the commissioning of the road, “if the act continues, the state government will be forced to enforce appropriate laws.”

Earlier, the General Manager of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, who was represented by Engineer Olugbenga Dairo, Director of Public Transportation, said that very soon about 400 buses would be deployed to ply the Ikorodu Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, corridor when completed before the end of the second quarter of this year.