Sanwo-Olu: A Detribalised Business Enabler in Lagos
Lagos has no doubt excelled in many areas due to the sterling leadership enjoyed since the emergence of the fourth republic in 1999. Idowu Koyenikan, Author for all wealth said “Even though your time on the job is temporary, if you do a good enough job, your work there will last forever.”
The Lagos blueprint designed during the Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu years encompasses human capital development, infrastructure and security.
Little wonder the 15th governor of Lagos State, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has consolidated on the gains effectively making the state the biggest metropolitan area in Africa with a tech hub rapidly advancing towards a 24-hour economy, and generating 10% of Nigeria’s total GDP.
To further make life easy, the administration of Lagos state under the current governor has been a business Enabler providing suitable business environment to all residents regardless of tribe and ethnicity.
For instance, Nigeria’s wholesale and retail food stuff supply largely relies on the popular Mile-12 Market, situated in the Ketu axis of Lagos.
Almost every type of staple food item, fruit, and vegetable is readily available at the market. In fact, it is safe to say that the market provides 80% of the food consumed in the state of Lagos. So, it should come as no surprise that it is one of the most popular food markets in the nation.
The Mile-12 market also serves as a meeting place for vendors from all over the nation. As a result, it is common to see traders from many ethnic groups in the market, including Yoruba, Igbo and mostly Northerners. This multicultural group of dealers genuinely engage with one another, establishing camaraderie and brotherhood.
Despite the dominance of the market by northerners, a suitable environment is being ensured by Governor Sanwo-Olu who could easily have used as excuse, the menace created by the market to free-flow of human and vehicular movement and sometimes needless loss of manpower hours and in some instances loss of lives, to relocate the market.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, however, considering that food business is extremely important for the public and the implications of disrupting the traders source of livelihood, instead, provided more infrastructure and made the area more conducive for traders, commuters and residents
In the same vein, Ladipo market in the Matori area of Lagos, a large market for trading in vehicle parts in the entirety of Africa, has received great attention from Gov Sanwo-Olu. The administration has provided an enabling environment to all traders in the market, giving room for them to earn livelihood and do their profiting business. The multibillion-naira vehicle spare parts hub is predominantly dominated by Igbos.
Despite the excesses of traders in the market, Lagos state government has shown great support and created an environment to make the market comfortable for the traders, in the face of unwholesome environmental practices in the markets despite repeated warnings by the Lagos State Waste Management Agency.
Health and environmental hazards are one of the challenges being faced in the market and despite calls from different quarters and individuals to close down the market, the magnanimity of the Lagos APC led government in Lagos has continually helped to keep the hub thriving and secured.
Also, the Computer Village is an Information and Communications Technology accessories market located at Ikeja, the capital of Lagos State. The market is the largest ICT accessory market in Africa proudly dominated by South Easterners. The Lagos state governor has also provided an environment worthy to help business thrive to young and hustling young Nigerians, who have come to Lagos to earn a living.
Balogun Market is located in the heart of Lagos Island. It sprawls across so many streets in the part of Lagos usually called Éko and is widely recognized as the best place to buy fabrics, shoes and all sorts of wares, dominated by Yorubas. The reoccurring fire incidents could have closed down the whole place, however, the government has kept it alive.
As Simon Sinek rightly put, “Progress is more important than perfection”. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu might not be perfect but he’s done incredible well in term of enabling environment for business to thrive across religions and tribes in Lagos State.
