By Muyiwa Lucas The splendour and layout of the structure speak volume of the transformation that has taken place in the environment. With well laid-out buildings and impressive ambience, visitors to the place cannot but marvel at the development that has now turned the Oluwole area, a former slum located in the Lagos Island Local Government of Lagos State, into a modern business district. This development, it is believed, would further enhance commerce in the state, and by extension, a recipe for the accelerated infrastructural renewal of the various slums in Lagos. The development and recent commissioning of the first phase of Oluwole Urban Market, represent the state government’s effort in the actualisation of the megacity status of Lagos. The scheme, a public-private partnership, PPP, between Lagos State Development and Property Corporation, LSDPC, and Messrs ARM Properties Limited, is a three-storey building multipurpose market comprising of 384 shops, 294 K-Klamps and offices. To ensure proper sanitary condition, the building also comprises of 100 toilets, two elevators, borehole to ensure adequate water supply, electricity generators, loading bay, goods’ lift as well as on-site facilities management. The scheme, valued at N1.5 billion, has an equity sharing of 65 per cent and 35 per cent to ARM Properties and the state government respectively, and spans a 25-year period, after which it would be handed over to the government. Francisco Abosede, commissioner for physical planning and urban development, believes that with the development, government was fulfilling its desire to redevelop Oluwole into a multipurpose commercial complex that will house offices,

hotels, cinema/entertainment centre, service centre, multi-storey parking facilities that can provide first-class services in a world class functional central business district befitting the megacity status of the state. Indeed, the successful development of the former Oluwole slum would serve as an eye-opener to families owning lands in other slums that have continued to constitute an eyesore in the Lagos Island area. In realising the lofty dreams for the state, government is now encouraging families to compromise and agree to pool their small parcels of land together to attract investment support. Cooperating in this way, stakeholders reason, would enhance the re-building and development of other slums like Isale Eko, Offin, Olowogbowo, Oke-Arin, Balogun, Kakawa and so many other parts of the city. “I have often said the Lagos of our dreams is daily getting within our reach�, a confident Babatunde Fashola, Lagos State governor, said, adding that the development of the new Oluwole Model Urban market is a fulfillment of a dream of about six decades for the urban renewal of Lagos. He recalled that the plan to renew the development of the slum was re-visited in 1999, when the administration of Bola Tinubu, former governor of the state, reached an out-of-court agreement with the various parties involved in the litigations on Oluwole area. Consequently, the present administration was able to finalise the terms with the project developer; met with the families that owned the land to explain government’s purpose, renegotiated compensation with them and provided 39 flats in Shasha Housing Estate for the 39 families who owned the land to relocate to. Fashola is satisfied th

that the project is yet another PPP transaction concluded by the state government for the benefit of the people, as it demonstrates the capacity of government to negotiate complex and challenging transactions, and also the efforts of the state government to secure a better life for her people. The effort has attracted commendations from various quarters. Wasiu Sanni, chairman, Lagos Island Local Government, commended the commitment of the present administration to the infrastructural development of the state adding that the feat performed by the administration in the renewal of Oluwole is a testimony to the governor’s passion and love for the state. Though Sanni said the development had been long expected, he is particularly pleased that residents in the area can now sit comfortably in their homes and in the vicinity without being harassed by hoodlums as was the case during the notorious Oluwole days. Similarly, Mufutau Kadiku, chairman, Lagos East Local Council Development Area, said the development of the New Oluwole Urban Market would enhance the rapid development of Lagos Island, especially as it will attract investors and make life more comfortable for the residents. Habib Fashinro, a senator, said other slum areas on the Island such as Isale Eko have now taken a cue from the development and would cooperate with the government in any future plans to redevelop the areas. “They have given us a hint and we will cooperate so that the development of those areas will be easier than it was before�, he promised. While the government has approved that the former traders in the area be given the privilege of first purchase of 169 shops of their choice in the new m

new market, yet, there are fears. A trader, who simply identified himself as Sikiru, told the magazine that while it is a good concession, the shops might be priced out of their reach. He also fears that unscrupulous elements may scheme to corner the complex and later rent it out at exorbitant rates to genuine traders. Yet, another trader, Dele, shares these fears. He draws his conclusion from the happenings in the new Tejuosho market, where the former traders were priced out of contention. Indeed, the Oluwole area, measuring about 2, 501 hectares, had assumed a notorious reputation not only as a slum but as an enclave of criminals and dubious characters, who specialised in forgeries and sophisticated crime such as international passport racketeering, credit card fraud, drug cartel, certificate, currency and visa forgeries, among others. Tunde Afinsulu, a former resident of the area, is happy that Oluwole has now been transformed from a den of criminals to a modern international market. According to him, it was the notoriety of the place that informed his relocation from the area. But for now, the Oluwole market model would be a reference for rebuilding offices, creating new flats and apartments for residential purposes in the Lagos Central Business District. Abosede: Government is building a world-class business centre The new Oluwole Urban Market, Lagos Island Fashola: Elated