The popular Alaba Rago market which got uproar on social media and amongst locals due to the proposed shutdown has made serious rounds on news tabliods.
The Alaba Rago in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State which is a part of the Alaba International Market
Thanks to circulating video on social media, which was tagged to ethnicity has made a vast majority of people have a negative idea of what is going on at Alaba Rago and why there is a turmoil presently.
What is Alaba Rago
A part of Alaba International Market, Alaba Rago (rago means ram in Hausa) is primarily a livestock market which receives perhaps the largest of rams and goats transported from northern Nigeria into Lagos.
While the Alaba International, also known as Alaba Electronics, is dominated by the highly enterprising and resilient Igbos, the Alaba Rago is a sort of economic community of Hausas in Lagos. The abokis not only do business in Alaba Rago, they also live there.
The market people on the 19th of May, 2022 were given a 14 day ultimatum to vacate the vicinity because of certain reasons:
5 Reasons For Alaba Rago Being Shutdown
Need to Revamp
There is to be a massive reconstruction of the market area to upgraded/modernized stalls for the market people, which is part of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration’s Urban Renewal Programme.
Den Of Criminals
Emerging intelligence security reports from the area have shown that Alaba Rago has become a den of criminals.
Thus, the state government has concluded plans to modernize the place in the shortest possible time in the best interest of the residents.
Weapons Discovered
The discovery of some locally made shotguns by Ojo Police Division a few weeks ago was part of many other reports that prompted the Government to expedite action on the remodeling of this market.
“About 4:00 a.m. on April, 3, 2022, officials of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) intercepted a busload of illicit drugs at Mile 2 en route Mushin.
The suspects confessed that the consignments were loaded at night in Alaba Rago”. Olayinka Egbeyemi, Commander, RRS, Chief Superintendent of Police(CSP) said.
Concern On International Trade
The demolition of the area is in conformity with Government’s T.H.E.M.E.S agenda on Environment and Security.
The government is worried by the shanties and the filthy conditions of the area, hence, modernizing it would be in the best interest of the occupiers. As the Lagos Ibadan express way is also an international route.
Defaces LASU
Also, Alaba Rago is directly opposite the Lagos State University Ojo Campus. Keeping a very busy market like that directly opposite a reputable institution of learning is not right.