The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, visited the Oko-Baba Sawmill and Plank Market gutted by a dawn fire on Monday, sympathizing with the traders and residents over their losses and assuring them of government’s support in rebuilding the structures.
Governor Fashola, on Wednesday, said that the incident would give the State Government the opportunity to assist them in rebuilding the market, adding that the Oko-Baba Sawmill operators should decide on how they want the place rebuilt.
According to the Governor,”Now, you would have heard that in the last two weeks we are rebuilding houses in Adeniji-Adele, because the houses are collapsing and the residents in the place were given money to find alternative accommodation before the houses would be completed and given privilege to return to their homes.
“If you want us to rebuild it in block form we shall assist you, but one thing you have to bear in mind is that you have to shift backward a bit and whichever one you may decide to do, let the town planning support you in doing the layout so that the buildings will not be too close and peradventure if there is fire outbreak, it will not affect the buildings.”
The residents prayed that such incident would never occur again in the state, and the Governor implored the residents to be calm and assured them that the Commissioners for Special Duties and Physical Planning and Urban Development would come back and hold meetings with them.
“They will survey, do the layout and after all, the people will sign and whatever you both agree on will be brought back to me,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, the Baale of Oko-baba Community, Chief Musibau Junaid, pleaded with Governor Fashola to allow all the residents to still remain in the area while the Town planner assists them in the re-planning of the area.
Also the Iyalode of the Community, Nimota Lateef Agoro, who is also the Woman Leader of Okobaba Community, also pleaded with the Governor to allow the residents to remain in the place while the re-planning is going on.
