•To relocate roadside traders into shops
By Maduka Nweke
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has officially laid the foundation for the highly anticipated Platinum Shopping Complex, a project designed to transform the state’s retail landscape.
The new complex is set to provide modern, well-equipped spaces for roadside traders, offering them the opportunity to move their businesses into permanent shops, thereby enhancing both commerce and urban aesthetics in the area.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu expressed deep concern over the hardships faced by roadside traders, particularly those along the Iyanaoba axis, who endure the constant dangers of heavy traffic, often risking their lives and livelihoods. During the commissioning of the Platinum Shopping Complex, situated opposite Lagos State University, the governor acknowledged the plight of these traders, sharing that he had witnessed firsthand the struggles they face, and vowed to bring an end to their suffering with the new development.
Earlier in the week, the Governor laid the foundation for the market, highlighting the strategic importance of the Platinum Shopping Complex’s construction. He emphasized that the location is particularly significant, surrounded by key landmarks such as a Specialist General Hospital and military facilities, with plans for a multi-purpose shopping complex in the vicinity, creating a dynamic hub for both commerce and community.
“So all around here, we’re regenerating and we’re repurposing so that we can improve not only the transportation infrastructure, where you have the rail line, also there is the fiscal infrastructure. There’s a lot of BRT improvement at Iba Junction that we’re doing and we’ll have a lot of markets on the road, a lot of people selling on the road. This is an attempt to bring them in into a more formal means where the kick clamps will be available for them. “So let Ojo people also live well, let them live well like other parts of the city and see real development. Hospital is here, rail is here, market is here and school is here. It is all a change and improvement of your lifestyle and we believe that all of those things improve the socio-economic power of your people and of our citizens in this corridor.
“We will ensure that the contractor does not come and bring me prices that will be thought-breaking. I will personally supervise that it is something that is affordable and is accessible for the citizens and the dwellers of this community. We’ll make you the priority. So that is why I am here and it has to be finished before the end of this administration. That is the condition for us to come and commission it before the end of our administration. So it has got only 18 months to complete all of this,” he said.
The Platinum Shopping Complex is being constructed by a retinue of developers that include; Almera Global Investment Services; Ojo Local Government: Lagos State Development and Property Corporation; First Trust Mortgage Bank as Financial Partner and MGE Realty Ltd as Sales Marketing Partner.
Speaking on the development, Mr. Odoh Nnamdi Celestine, MGE Realty Ltd Sales Team Lead for Platinum project, Ojo Iyanaoba said, we are here basically to build a modern shopping complex for this Local Government Area.
“We are building about 101,290 shops in the Shopping Complex. The space is 16 square meter per shop. The idea is to ensure that Lagos State is kept clean and safe, so a lot of people who have markets, you know, on the roadside will have the opportunity to come in and rent shops here. It is a place where the people can rent a shop, lease a shop and by that pull in the traders on the roadside into the shops,” he stated.
According to Mr. Paul Olukonga, Senior Public Affairs Officer for Lagost State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC), said “we are here for the ground breaking ceremony of the Platinum Shopping Complex.” It is one of the biggest shopping Complexes that we are bringing to the Iyanaoba retail market. It is actually a hub that is going to be a lifestyle. It is going to be a Mall as some people might refer to it. It is really something people are looking out for. We can see people making enquiries, picking flyers showing interest in cueing into the project.
“The major thing here is that the people will avail themselves of the opportunity of owning shops and stop being in the sun every day. It is affordable because a shop of 16 square meters going for N16 million is affordable. The Complex will be completed in phases but the first phase will be delivered within 18 months and the subsequent ones in sequence will be delivered,” he said.
In her contribution, Mrs Funmi Obikoya, Head Agency and Partners, MGE Realty said that something relative about the shopping complex is that since the Governor was here by himself, the work will be facilitated. “Although, we are looking for one year, it is relative because people can start doing business here in the next six months,” she said.