Lagos Market Advisory Council Holds Inaugural Meeting

The Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Dr. Wale Ahmed, has charged members of the recently inaugurated Lagos State Market Advisory Council (LASMAC) to live up to the expectations of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, by ensuring that they do every lawful thing to effectively manage and control the markets inline with international best practices.

The Commissioner, who gave the charge on Friday while briefing the Council on its statutory responsibilities, as well as guidelines to follow at its maiden meeting held at the State Secretariat, Alausa, stressed that the Governor knew the pivotal role of the markets in making the State a 21st-century economy, hence his insistence on the inclusion of market stakeholders in the scheme of things.

He said, “This is why this Council must ensure that it strategically positions the markets in a way that it profits the State and sets it ready for the economic growth that Lagos will witness in the years ahead”.

Dr. Ahmed also appealed to members of the Council to work in harmony and ensure that the mandate given by Mr. Governor is achieved, urging members to ensure that issues affecting markets across the 57 LGs are amicably addressed.

While informing that the establishment of the Council has legal backing and tasking members to work within the ambit of the law, the Commissioner disclosed that administrative guidelines have been drawn by the Ministry and would be made available for members at the next meeting to serve as a guide.

He added that the Council was expected to hold meetings once a month, while an enlarged meeting consisting of members of LASMAC, Iyalojas and Babalojas across the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas would hold every other month.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Kikelomo Morenike Sanyaolu, in her welcome address, congratulated members of the Council on the recent inauguration and admonished them to collaborate and consult with traders, as well as other classes of market operators, in the implementation of the tasks assigned to them by Mr. Governor.

She emphasised the importance of regular engagements and buy-in of all stakeholders on relevant government policies guiding market administration in Nigeria.

In her remarks, Iyaloja-General and Chairman, Lagos State Market Advisory Council, Chief (Mrs.) Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for the privilege and honour bestowed on the members to contribute to the economic development of the State, assuring the Commissioner of the Council’s commitment to diligently carry out the responsibilities assigned to them.

She added that the Council would ensure it did everything within the provisions of the law to ensure markets remained the key driver for economic growth in the State, while cementing Lagos’ status as the Centre of Excellence in Nigeria.

The Chairman maintained that the Council would also ensure it worked in tandem with the Ministry to align the activities of the markets with the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda of making Lagos a 21st-Century.

Other dignitaries in attendance included the Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Affairs, Mr. Babatunde Wale Jimoh; the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Local and Community Affairs, Prince Olusola Olusi; Principal Officers from the Ministry and members of the recently inaugurated council.

Recall that Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu inaugurated Lagos State Market Advisory Council last Tuesday, as part of the government’s effort in building a megacity, by positioning markets in the economic development of the State.