Sanwo-Olu Launches Market Trader Money Worth N750 To Traders in Lagos

AgegePulse Magazine 

...Says initiative will stimulate economic activities in food markets

 

Presentation of Cheque by Gov. Sanwo-Olu 

In fulfilment of his promise and demonstration of love to market men and women on Valentine’s Day, Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, flagged off the distribution of N750million financial intervention scheme tagged “Lagos Market Trader Money” for 15,000 beneficiaries.

The 15,000 beneficiaries, who received N50,000 each, were drawn from across all the six geo-political zones of Nigeria – South-West, South-East, South-South, North-Central, North-West and North East, but are all residents of Lagos.

Speaking during the launch of the Lagos Market Trader Money held at De Blue Roof, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the gesture will go a long way to actualise his goal of transforming the food systems in Lagos State and stimulate economic activities in various food markets in line with his administration’s THEMES+ developmental agenda.

It would be recalled that Governor Sanwo-Olu during the commissioning of the Mid-Level Agro produce Hub, Idi-Oro, Mushin on Sunday, December 17, 2023, announced a N750million financial intervention scheme for Lagos traders tagged “Lagos Market Trader Money” for 15,000 traders across the State.

Governor Sanwo-Olu fulfilled his promise in less than 60 days as 250 traders from each of 20 local governments and 37 Local Development Council Areas (LCDAs), as well as 750 beneficiaries identified from markets within the barracks and military formations across the State, on Wednesday, received N50,000 each. 

Sanwo-Olu implored the beneficiaries of the Lagos Market Trader Money to make the best and judicious use of the grant in ways that will contribute to the economic development of the State.

“I urge you to let the citizens of Lagos feel the impact of this grant and all the other support that this administration has been providing towards ensuring food security, through reasonable reduction in the cost of basic food items in a way that it will be affordable to ordinary Lagosians,” he said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said the initiative was conceptualized as a stop-gap measure of the Lagos State Government to empower small-scale traders in the Food Systems by providing them financial support to expand their businesses thereby fostering economic growth and improving the lives of many within the State.

He said: “This will ensure sustainable livelihoods and facilitate business expansion for 15,000 traders who occupy a strategic position in the State’s economic pyramid and food distribution network.

“Lagos State, which has a growing population presently estimated at over 24 million has a food system transaction value of over N6trillion annually, is in the process of establishing a dynamic food market system under the Food Systems Transformation Agenda to promote the preservation, storage, transportation and presentation of wholesome food to the populace, with the aim of reducing food waste, improve affordability, guarantee food safety, quality and accessibility.

“This initiative led to the implementation of key projects such as the establishment of the Lagos Central Food Security System and Logistics Hub, Ketu-Ereyun, Epe and the Mid-Level Agro Produce Hub, Idi-Oro, Mushin. As a mark of our resolve to follow through with the Agenda, work has commenced on three additional Mid-Level Agro-Produce Hubs at Sangotedo, Agege, and Abule-Ado, while the first phase of the Lagos Central Food Security System and Logistics Hub will be commissioned by December 2024.”

Speaking on how the 15,000 traders were selected for the Lagos Market Trader Money, Governor Sanwo-Olu disclosed that “The beneficiaries were identified by the State’s Agricultural Field Officers serving each LGA/LCDA in collaboration with the Iyaloja/Babaloja General and Market Masters of each Local Government/Local Council Development Area across the State.

“The beneficiaries were selected through a methodical process targeted at 200 beneficiaries from markets in each LGA/LCDA in addition to 50 beneficiaries that were selected by the Iyaloja/Babaloja General in each LGA/LCDA making a total of 14,250 market traders.

“Also, 750 beneficiaries were identified from markets within the Barracks and Military formations across the State in collaboration with their respective Iyaloja/Babaloja. This brings the total number of beneficiaries to 15,000.

“To ensure fairness in the selection process while demonstrating the spirit of Lagos as being home to all, the beneficiaries were drawn from across all the geopolitical zones of the Nation with 11,039 from the South-West, 914 from the South-East, 868 from the South-South, 1,710 from North- Central, 373 from the North-West and 107 from the North-East.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu also noted that 75 percent of the beneficiaries are women while the remaining 25 percent are men, adding that 35 percent of the beneficiaries are below 40 years while 65 percent are above 40 years. He said this goes to show the social inclusiveness in implementing the initiative.

Speaking earlier, Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, said the Lagos Market Trader Money initiative is part of the government’s efforts towards ensuring sustainable livelihoods and wealth creation for traders across the State.

She said: “This initiative is part of the State Government’s commitment to the development of the downstream segment of food and agricultural value chains which centers on markets and market access. This is due to the fact that Lagos is the largest market city-state in sub-Saharan Africa.

“The support that would be extended today is targeted at expanding the capacity of the beneficiaries to off-take more produce from our farmers thereby catalysing increased food production in and outside the State.

“This Initiative, jointly implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Local Governments, in collaboration with market leaders across all the 57 LGAs and LCDAs is only the first of many to be launched by Mr. Governor towards helping to shoulder the burdens of the citizenry, ranging from food, health, education to transportation.”

Also speaking, the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Chief (Mrs.) Folasade Tinubu-Ojo appreciated Governor Sanwo-Olu for the good gestures to market men and women in Lagos State.

She enjoined traders, who are beneficiaries of the Lagos Market Trader Money to make good use of the N50,000 given to them to augment their businesses.

SECURITY : LAGOS TASK FORCE RAIDS IKEJA CBD

...Arrests Miscreants, Illegal Street Traders


AgegePulse Magazine

Operatives of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce) over the weekend raided all streets within Central Business District including surroundings of the 'African Shrine', Alausa, Ikeja.

The Chairman of the Agency, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi said the enforcement operations became imperative following complaints from members of the public about the criminal activities of miscreants and environmental nuisance of illegal street traders around the Shrine.

Egbeyemi disclosed that 28 miscreants and 15 illegal street traders were arrested at various locations around Alausa, hinting that the raid was also initiated due to the nefarious acts within the vicinity of the African Shrine which presented a negative image to tourists and Lagosians as a whole.

According to the Chairman, "The night enforcement operation was carried out on all roads around African Shrine where sales of hard drugs like Tramadol, Codeine, Skunk, Weed, Illegal Mixed Liquor, Assorted Food and all sorts of consumable and non-consumable items are freely sold on the streets in defiance of security agencies and government authority”.

CSP Egbeyemi maintained that the enforcement operations will be a continuous exercise in line with the vision of the present administration to rid the entire State of street urchins and criminals.

"The Lagos State Government has vowed to sustain the security onslaught on all areas identified as criminal hideouts and hard drug outlets across the State, especially within the metropolis,” Egbeyemi said.

One of the arrested miscreants (Tunde Babalola) who was caught with a bag of substance suspected to be Indian hemp confirmed that he has been selling hard drugs for eight years, particularly around 'African Shrine' at Ikeja.

He confirmed further that dealing in hard drugs is a lucrative business, saying he realised an average profit between N60,000 and N100,000 weekly from customers around Obalende, Akala, Mushin, Bariga and Ikeja.

Another arrested trader who simply identified herself as Mrs. Abike Adeyemi disclosed that she paid N1,900 every week to a representative of Ikeja Local Government from the sales of 'Skuchies' and 'Hot drinks' around the ‘African Shrine’.

The Task Force Chairman has confirmed that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Zubairu Muazu has directed that all those arrested be immediately prosecuted.


Adebayo Taofiq  (Assistant Director)
Head, Public Affairs Unit
Lagos State Task Force.

Osinbajo inaugurates disbursement of capital to two million traders

Ifeanyi Onuba, Abuja
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday began the disbursement of start-up capital for 39,000 petty traders in the Federal Capital Territory.
The disbursement is part of the current administration’s drive to empower over two million petty traders across the country through a commercial loan scheme tagged “Trader moni.”


The scheme being implemented by the Bank of Industry allows each beneficiary to get an interest free loan of between N10,000 to N15,000.
The interest-free loan is part of the social intervention programmes under the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration.
The VP also inaugurated a One-Stop-Shop to address some of the impediments to the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the country.

Osinbajo commissioned the facility which is located at the headquarters of the Abuja Enterprise Agency.
The centre would provide MSMEs with support services to grow their businesses.

Some of these support are access to finance, enterprise development and regulatory support in areas such as business registration, tax-related issues, and export promotion.

The VP while speaking at the event said the establishment of the centre underscored the effort of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to creating an environment that would support the rapid growth of MSMEs in the country.

The Executive Director, MSMEs, Bank of Industry, Toyin Adeniji, said that the bank is partnering with the Federal government to empower small traders.

Adeniji said that the project which is wholly driven by the government is expected to give N10,000 grant each to the traders to boost their businesses.

Breaking: Fire guts Ayobo Garage, Agege

... As Egunjobi visits scene to console victims

Information reaching Agege Pulse says about seven shops situated inside Ayobo Garage, Agege have been consumed by fire.

It took the combined efforts of some Good Samarithans and officers of the Lagos State Fire Service to arrest the inferno from spreading beyond the seven shops.

Agege LGA Chairman, Alhaji Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi who was alerted about the inferno by Ward C, Agege Councillor, Mr Hassan Ala rushed to the scene. He was accompanied by Hon Bisi Adedoku, and the Special Adviser on Special Duties to Executive Chairman, Alhaja Ramot Sanni.

On arrival, we learnt that Egunjobi preached peace and acceptance of fate to shop owners who have been consumed by grieve of the ugly incident.

In addition, Egunjobi and his team used the medium to address the issue of theft that was obvious as some hoodlums try to take advantage of the fire incident to steal some goods of the victims.

It was learnt that the source of the sudden fire outbreak was unknown. Some of the affected traders who spoke to Agege Pulse said the incident was like magic adding that there's been no electricity supply to the complex for about six (6) months.

Other traders claimed to have lost millions of Naira to the fire. One of them who is a distributor of all kinds of soaps said she'd just received new stocks which amount to several millions of Naira.