Oluyinka Onigbinde
The Lagos state government has revealed that it will construct a six-lane access road that will connect Lekki to Shagamu along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, as part of efforts to reduce the logistics constraints that may come with the establishment of the Lekki deep seaport in Lagos.
The Governor of Lagos state; Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu revealed this at the 2022 All Markets Conference organized by Ndigbo Amaka Progressive Markets Association in Lagos recently.
According to the Governor, the six-lane road will be provided to link Lekki Deep Seaport to Shagamu and other locations along Lagos-Ibadan expressway to dissipate the traffic congestion in Lagos.
He noted that the land for the Badagry Deep Seaport has already been secured with the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) expected soon, adding that the establishment of Badagry seaport coupled with the Lekki Deep Seaport will provide better economic and trading opportunities in Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu at the event also commended the traders for their commitment to developing Lagos, describing the entrepreneurial spirit of Ndigbo as strong and worthy of emulation as leading business schools like Harvard, are studying the trading techniques of Ibos.
According to him, “Your contributions to the livelihood of your host communities have been acknowledged and in Lagos, we have created together an economy that has continued to grow and position our nation as the biggest economy in Africa. Trading is a veritable link between producers and consumers, which is the area the Ndigbo traders have tirelessly worked to define the growth trajectory of our dear State. I’m happy that our modest interventions for more growth in this area are visible and being recognized.”
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Sanwo-Olu pledged that his administration would continue to protect the business interests of the Igbo people, while promising to make the state habitable for non-indigenes that abide by the laws of the State.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo encouraged Ndigbo Amaka to work in unison and partner government agencies like Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in maintaining order in the society.
Okonkwo encouraged the group to operate strategically like the Organized Private Sector (OPS) to lobby Lagos State government and federal legislators to prioritize laws and policies that would transform trading and market environs.
He advised the traders not to vent their anger on Customs and other agencies implementing government policies but constructively take their lobbying to legislators to alter tariffs and laws inhibiting their activities.
Okonkwo said the conference offered opportunities to engage policymakers and political administrators in charge of the commerce to lobby for regulatory actions that would further ease business activities.
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