The special adviser to the Lagos State governor on eGIS and Urban Development, Dr. Olajide Babatunde, has reiterated the plans of the Lagos State Government, LASG, to relocate the Computer Village from Ikeja to Katangowa.
The Computer Village – the country’s biggest tech hub – is moving to Katangowa in Abule Egba, a suburb in the outskirts of Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area, LCDA, in Lagos State.
The Igbo from the Southeast who are the predominant shop owners in the Ikeja Computer Village are writhing in pain as this government policy may also unwittingly require them to move houses too. Commuting from Ikeja metropolis and it’s environs – where the Igbo reside, mainly – to the outskirts of Abule Egba daily is going to be tortuous, especially given the current economic climate.
Babatunde, while speaking to Journalist on Saturday, stressed that the decision has been long coming since 2017, but has been stalled due to logistics and other dynamics. He pointed out the need to move these traders who are basically on the road, for the most part, obstructing, endangering and jeopardizing the already gruesome traffic situation in the State. He goes on to say,
“We are trying to do things in a proper way. We are working on all these things to make sure we regenerate, redevelop, renovate and conserve.
“Anything that we need to do in terms of the terminologies that we have in the urban development agenda, will be put to play in Lagos in a way that you are going to have a greater Lagos.”
The Lagos State government has been harping on the need to move the Computer Village since 2017. The process for the relocation of the Mile-12 market and Oko-Baba Sawmill to Imota is also in the works, only being delayed following review of initial building plans due to current needs to ensure a more befitting environment.
