Lagos Computer Village vendors fear revenue loss amid relocation

The plan to relocate Lagos Computer Village from Ikeja to Katangua in the Abule-Egba axis of the city has triggered fear of revenue loss among gadget vendors, JOSEPHINE OGUNDEJI writes

Computer Village, nestled in the heart of Ikeja, Lagos, is the technology hub for the Sub-Saharan region. It is the go-to destination for the latest gadgets and reliable repairs.

The significance of Computer Village extends beyond its role as a marketplace. It catalyses Nigeria’s technological advancement, fostering entrepreneurship, driving economic growth, and facilitating access to cutting-edge technology.

However, despite the significance of Computer Village to the country’s technological innovations, its location has been a source of the Lagos State Government, residents and road users in that part of the city. Traffic congestion clogs the streets surrounding the market, impeding business operations and road users. The lack of parking facilities exacerbates the challenge.

Genesis of relocation plan

In 2017, the Lagos State Government during a press briefing announced plans to relocate Computer Village to decongest the capital of the state.

It said the relocation was aimed at curbing environmental degradation, housing stock deficit, and traffic congestion in the state capital.

“The relocation will curb environmental degradation, housing stock deficit, and traffic congestion in the Ikeja axis,” the state government noted.

In 2021, Bridgeways Global Projects Limited, the contractor in charge of the new Computer Village, announced that the first phase of the new ICT market would be completed in 24 months.

The new Computer Village would be called the Katangua Information and Communications Technology Business Park. The Chief Executive Officer of Bridgeways Global Projects, Jimmy Onyemenam, explained that the new area would provide infrastructure for the manufacturing of technology hardware.

“The Katangua ICT Business Park will also provide the infrastructure to incubate and accelerate the development of technology solutions that can improve development outcomes in Africa.”

According to numerous reports, the project was expected to cost about N40bn. The President of the Phone and Allied Product Dealers Association of Nigeria, Ifeanyi Akubue, stated that the project had been slow-paced.

He explained that the project’s site had been fenced and the foundation for some buildings had been erected.

He stated, “The developer and the market are working towards the project but there has been a delay. I don’t know why there is a delay because the traders are not the ones in charge. It was contracted to a developer. The developer revealed at the launch of the project that in 24 months the site would be ready”

However, the Managing Partner of Bodds IT Solutions, Emmanuel Osho, disclosed that a lot of traders were not happy with the planned relocation of Computer Village as it would impact their businesses negatively.

He explained that the current slow pace of the project was because certain bigwigs in the market were kicking against it.

He said, “I am not in support of the move and a lot of traders are not excited about it, a lot of people like where the market is located.

“Moving the market means we would be farther from central Lagos, meaning a lot of people would have to spend a lot of time to get to their workplaces. Also, people would have to think twice before they plan to come to do business with us.

“Ikeja is in central Lagos. Now, imagine they need to come to our new location from the Island. Ikeja was already stressful, but this will be an added stress for them and the shop owners. People that are situated in Ikeja would have to be shuttling between Ikeja and Katangora.

“What will make sense is to try to move people to central concentrations within the market. That is what makes sense. A lot of bigwigs do not want to move, and this is slowing down the project, they are fighting it in their way.”

The Public Relations Officer of the Computer and Allied Product Dealers Association of Nigeria, Solagbade Olaifa, told The According that Computer Village was situated in an area that wasn’t intentionally designed to be a market.

He said, “The market sprang up as a result of its centrality and in response to the demand for technological devices. However, all this is about to change as the Lagos State Government has since announced plans to relocate the market from its present location to Katangua in Abule Egba to solve traffic congestion and environmental problems in the area.”

Vendors voice concerns

Vendors market had decried the relocation of the gadget market from Ikeja to Katangua in Abule-Egba.

In an exclusive interview with The According, a phone seller, Bolaji Amos, expressed concerns about the potential loss of customers due to the relocation.

He said, “Most of our customers come from the Island and it is not easy connecting Katangua from the Island. The sale of goods would decline drastically, and people would lose their jobs.   This relocation would spoil business because people prefer to come because there is security. How do they want to cope with the dumping site at Katangua?

“AAbule-Egba is very far and to connect it won’t be easy for customers. People would be scared because of the slum, where bad boys are taking hard drugs and there are lots of hoodlums flocking that area.”

Voicing his displeasure, an engineer and a seller of electronics, Razaq Dosunmu, said Computer Village is well known for the sale of electronics and gadgets. Going to a new location to start the business from scratch is of great concern.”

A gadget seller, Austin Onyeka, highlighted the inconvenience of Katangua’s distance compared to the central location of Ikeja.

He said, “Katangua is very far; Ikeja is very central and can be linked easily, which makes it easy. So, relocating a market from Ikeja to Katangua is very far for buyers. People rarely go to that side because of distance; they prefer coming to Computer Village. A client cannot because of a phone charger or laptop charger spends all day on the road to Katangua, when Ikeja is a shorter distance and easily accessible.”

Another seller of electronics, Emeka Ezinnechie, expressed concerns about the difficulty in locating Katangua and the heavy traffic along the route.

He said, “It is going to affect us because not everyone knows where Katangua is located.  Traffic is usually crazy around that axis. Is the market relocation our problem now? They should face other issues and leave the Computer Village where it is. It is okay where it is because it is at the centre of the city.”

A female gadget seller, Awotinpe Yemisi, likened the relocation to starting from scratch.

She said, “It was like starting from scratch.  It would affect my customers because it would not be easy for those coming from the Island to come down to Katangua.”

Emmanuel Victor, who patronises Computer Village, criticised the planned relocation of the market.

He argued, “Where Computer Village is currently located is way better than relocating it to Katangua. This would even add to our hardship. The government should kindly let the market remain where it is.”

Lasg reacts

Revisiting the relocation in 2024, the Lagos State Government said it decided to relocate Computer Village from Ikeja because its current location was a residential area.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Electronic Geographic Information System and Urban Development, Dr Olajide Babatunde, disclosed this during a recent assessment visit to the market.

The assessment was conducted by the Lagos State Building Control Agency, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies and other government agencies responsible for emergency affairs.

Babatunde said by law, Ikeja Computer Village is a residential area, adding that the plan to relocate it to Katangua was initially delayed for some reasons.

He noted that the issues were being addressed and shortly the occupants of the residential area within the computer village would be relocated and settled in Katangua.

He said, “Where the Computer Village is located is, was, and will continue by law to be a residential area, hence we must follow the law. Katangua is the area designated by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, particularly the Office of Physical Planning.

“We chose Katangua because of the good road network, we are certain that we are not going to be having traffic problems once Katangua is ready to receive the people from Computer Village.

“The expanse of land is such that when you drive in, the person may get lost because of how huge the place is. It is not something that was not well thought of, it is within the model city plan for the area.”

He noted that the relocation of the residents is to where business would thrive.

He added, “We are moving the village into a place where their business would thrive while maintaining the status quo. Ikeja Computer Village was a residential area before, it is presently, and I think it will continue to be a residential area. We must ensure that things are done according to the law. Since the law says it is a residential area, it should remain as such.

“Katangua market will majorly accommodate the traders within Computer Village. they would have market stores and outlets, and they would have secured title to the stores allocated to them so that if they want to take loans with the property they have within the market, they can use that with any bank.

“In addition, there would be banking facilities, clinics, schools, crèche, storage facilities, and some housing, including hotels where those who come to the place outside of Lagos would be accommodated within the area.”

The special adviser noted that the relocation would be gradual, adding that consultations with market leaders and the development of the Katangua site had already commenced.

“We are planning with the people; they are also ready and we will continue to carry them along on the Katangua plan,” he added.