The Lagos State Government has said the Ikeja Computer Village is a residential area, hence the reason for the proposed relocation of the electronic gadgets village to Katangua in Abule-Egba area of the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr Olajide Babatunde, disclosed this on Tuesday, during a visit to the electronic gadgets’ centre in Ikeja.
The assessment was conducted by the Lagos State Building Control Agency, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies and other pertinent government bodies responsible for such affairs.
Babatunde said that by law, the Ikeja Computer Village is currently located in a residential area, adding that the plan to relocate the centre to Abule Egba has been delayed due to certain reasons.
He, however, said the issues were being addressed already, declaring that occupants of the residential area within the computer village would soon be relocated and settled in Katangua, Abule Egba
He said, “Where the Computer Village is located is, was, and will continue by law to be a residential area, hence we must follow the law. Katangua is the area designated (for such activity) by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, particularly the Office of Physical Planning.
“We chose Katangua because of the good road network, we are certain that we are not going to be having traffic problems once Katangua is ready to receive the people from Computer Village. The expanse of land is such that when you drive in, the person would get lost because of how huge the place is, it is not something that was not well thought of, it is within the model city plan for the area.
According to Bababtunde, it is incorrect to state that the market is congested, adding that no market springs up without the population around the area.
He added, “We are moving the village into a place where their business would thrive while maintaining the status quo, Ikeja Computer Village was a residential area before, it is presently, and I think it will continue to be a residential area., we must ensure that things are being done according to the law, since the law states that it is a residential area, it should remain as such.
“Katangua market will majorly accommodate the traders within the computer village, they would have market stores and outlets, and they would also have secured title to the stores allocated to them so that if they want to take loans from the properties they have within the market, they can use that with any bank. In addition, there would be banking facilities, clinics, schools, crèche, storage facilities, and some housing including hotels where those who come to the place outside of Lagos would be accommodated within the area.”
Speaking on the price outlook, Babatunde asserted the question was difficult to answer at the moment because of the increase prices of building materials.
He stated, “It would be difficult to answer the question presently, I would have spoken on it if it were last year. You know what the price of cement was a few weeks ago, you know what it is today, so I think it is better for the people who would be constructing the facility to drive the cost, but we must control it. In terms of road accessibility, the access is being planned by the government.”
The Special Adviser noted that the relocation was gradual and consultations with market leaders and the development of the katangua site had already commenced.
He disclosed, “We are planning with the people, they are also ready and we will continue to carry them along on the katangua plan.”
It was earlier reported on Saturday that the Lagos State Government was set to relocate the Computer Village from Ikeja to Katangua in the Abule-Egba area, in a bid to re-organise the markets in the state.