Chief (Mrs) Elizabeth Adenuga is the Iyaloja (female head) of Alade Market, Ikeja, Lagos. In an interview with TOYIN SANGOTADE, she says the market has been moribund since it was temporarily moved to a new site. Excerpts:
How has the famous Alade Market faired since it was temporarily moved to a new site?
There has been reduction in sales recorded by traders as our customers find it hard to locate us here. Also, there is not enough money in circulation and the market has not been going well. Another challenge is poor access road. We need more link roads to the market as some of our customers do not even know where the new market is situated, if not for the signboard at the entry of the street linking the market. Some of the affected traders also do not have the capability to rent the new market because of the allocation fee.
Why was the market moved from the old place to the new site?
The government wanted to rebuild the old one, that was why we are here. So they called it a temporary market, so when they are through with it, we will move back.
Whenever government constructs a new market, traders complain that shop rents are always expensive. Was it like that when the new temporary Alade Market was opened?
Whenever government builds a new market, it is always like that. Currently, the value of the shops ranges from N400, 000 to N500,000 but the local government subsidised it to N150,000 per annum for a shop in order not to impoverish the market women. At first, when we moved in here, they asked us to pay N150,000 for allocation fee and early this year, we were asked to pay another N150,000, which a lot of us are complaining about, that it is too expensive.
What are the amenities being enjoyed here compared to the old market?
There is light, adequate security, toilet facilities and parking lots for customers. The relocation site is more spacious.
In 2017, the Lagos State Government promised to offer loan facilities to traders in Alade Market. Has the government fulfilled its promise?
The government promised traders loans to boost their business but they have not fulfilled their promise since then. They took our address and phone numbers but we haven’t seen them
Have there been follow-ups to make sure the promises are fulfilled?
The market Executives have been making sure they do follow-ups on the promise. The government promised traders loans to boost their business but at the moment, we haven’t seen
them.
What has been the current value of the market in terms of sales?
The market sales are fluctuating, though customers are patronising in bits. But it is not like before; so the market value has not been constant and I don’t know presently the value of the market.
