Speeches

Inauguration Of The Lagos State Market Board

Dec 17, 2009 - Let me begin by acknowledging the wonderful work done by those who have served on the Market Board at one time or the other. Our people appreciate your selfless service. Our Mama, we thank you for your leadership role. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my pleasure to welcome you today to this inauguration of the Lagos State Market Board.

We are entering into a new era of good governance in all areas of socio–economic and political activities in Lagos State. And the sector we are here to inaugurate the Board that will oversee its activities is critical to the success of how far we can achieve our goals. Our objective in re-organizing the Board is to improve its performance and efficiency. This quest for improved performance of the Board has been our abiding principle since it was established by law in 1981. Since then, we have been making deliberate and conscious efforts in choosing and constituting members of the Boards. We consulted widely and we are sure we have picked the right men and women who will devote time to serve the interest of our market people and the State.

These men and women are professionals and they represent the various interest groups in our communities with proven efficiency at the helms of affairs of their respective organizations. Their acceptance to serve on the Board will therefore contribute to make the Board a viable organization to serve the larger public interest.

Let me therefore seize this opportunity to congratulate the new board chairman and members. I want to assure you that you have all been appointed to this Board purely on merits and in due recognition of your experience in the marketing sub-sector. I am therefore confident that you will bring your wealth of experience to bear on the operations of the Board and thereby contribute your quota to the development of the new Lagos of our dream.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, this new Lagos deserves an efficiently administered market system to sustain its commercial growth. We have recognized this fact and this is why we have embarked on market development projects at Kayero in Oshodi, Tejuosho, Oyingbo, Iponri and Oluwole. Work is in progress at all these markets. This is part of our efforts to modernize a very vital segment of the informal sector which employs many of our people and contribute to the commercial growth of the State. We will solve other challenges by modernizing our markets. We will secure trader’s business by providing title documents on their shops. One of the advantages of that is that they can use the documents to access loans, particularly from our micro-credit scheme.

We believe that an organized market system will eradicate the menace of street trading, which government agencies have been tackling. This will bring sanity to our roads and enhance traffic management. Street trading which has been identified as a major cause of traffic snarl will be stopped.

Clearly, there is work to be done in our market system. But we have defined our objectives and put the necessary structure and men and women in place to give us the desired result.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, permit me at this juncture to present the Chairman and members who have been appointed to constitute the Lagos State Market Board. They are:

Alhaja (Chief) Dr. Abibat Mogaji (MFR) - Chairman
Alhaja Bose Lomerikan - Member
Deacon Lanre Ajayi - “
Mr. Sikiru Akinola - “
Alhaji Jenmi T. A. - “
Alhaji Borokini R. A. - “
Alhaji Wasiu Babajide Oyewole - “
Mrs. T. E. Lawal - “

On this note, I wish to urge you to justify the confidence repose in you by discharging your duties efficiently and diligently. You must see yourself as a turn-around management team and restore the credibility of this Board. I am aware that the task ahead is enormous. I urge you to put your personal and collective expertise to practice in order to excel on the job. I wish you a successful tenure in office.

Now, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the honour and duty to inaugurate the new Lagos State Marketing Board to the glory of God, economic development and growth of Lagos State and service of mankind.

Thank you for your attention.

Eko o ni baje o!

Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN
Executive Governor,
Lagos State