An amalgamation of Igbo traders across 58 major markets in Lagos, on Thursday, passed a vote of confidence in Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, endorsing his second term bid.

The traders, under the aegis of Ndigboamaka Progressive Markets Association, said although Mr Sanwo-Olu had not formally informed them of his second term bid, they would support the governor’s re-election.

The traders gave the endorsement at the 2022 All Markets Conference, organised by the association in Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos.

The association’s secretary general, Chinedu Ukatu, said the endorsement was in appreciation of the government’s business policies and infrastructure development, which support their trades.

”Mr Governor, you have not formally told us whether you are seeking re-election or not, but I want to tell you that all the market leaders seated here today are yearning for a second term for you,” Mr Ukatu stated.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said the endorsement was a mark of general acceptance of his administration’s efforts to deliver ‘Greater Lagos’ and strengthen the culture of good governance, for which the state was reputed.

He added that the support came with an assurance of more development programmes to be expected from his administration.

The governor promised not to take the Ndigbo’s support for granted, while reassuring them of the government’s continued collaboration to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

He explained that Igbo traders remained prominent players in the economic growth of the state.

”This is another moment for our government to recognise our Ndigbo brothers and sisters for their commitment to the growth and development of Lagos. Certainly, Ndigbo traders have been part of the good story of Lagos; your entrepreneurial spirit is second to none and the Igbo enterprising spirit has become a case study in Harvard, which is the biggest business school in the world,” the governor stressed. ”Contribution to the livelihood of your host communities have been acknowledged and in Lagos, we have created together an economy that has continued to grow and position our nation as the biggest economy in Africa.”

He added, ”Trading is a veritable link between producers and consumers, which is the area the Ndigbo traders have tirelessly worked to define the growth trajectory of our dear State. I am happy that our modest interventions for more growth in this area are visible and being recognised.”

He pledged that his administration would continue to protect the business interests of the Igbo people, while promising to make the state habitable for non-indigenes that abide by the laws of the state.

He also mentioned that his administration would continue to seek peaceful co-existence among all ethnic nationalities cohabiting in Lagos, that the ethnic groups must see themselves as different sides of a coin that should not have anything against one another.

”We have to come to the understanding that we all have different roles to play in keeping Lagos safe for business and living,” stated Mr Sanwo-Olu. ”We are all important stakeholders in Lagos project, whether it is government, traders and private sector individual. We must continue to foster peace and harmony through an avenue like this conference, using the interaction to make Lagos better for everyone of us.”

The commissioner for local government and community affairs, Wale Ahmed, said the government regarded informal markets as important sector of the state’s economy.

Mr Ahmed, represented by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Kikelomo Sanyaolu, stated that the conference created the platform to address challenging issues plaguing commercial activities across markets.

He further noted that markets management in Lagos had been structured with policies to engender economic growth.

”In April last year, we inaugurated a 21-member Lagos State Market Advisory Council (LASMAC), with the responsibility of managing the affairs of markets in the state, in line with the international best practices, thus helping to acquaint the traders and other stakeholders with the policies of this administration,” explained the commissioner. ”The council took cognizance of the various socio-cultural settings in markets across the state and Mr Governor ensured that various communities were brought on board to represent different socio-cultural interests and affinities.”

The chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Obiora Okonkwo, said the conference offered opportunities to engage policymakers and political administrators in charge of the commerce, to lobby for regulatory actions that would further ease business activities.

Mr Okonkwo specifically charged traders to cooperate with the government and regulatory agencies in exposing counterfeiters in their markets.

President of the association, Jude Okeke, made a case for trade incentives for marketers, stressing that the economy would not flourish without the contribution of informal traders.

(NAN)