Relocation of Computer Village: Traders uncomfortable, Govt insists it’s for good

Fresh from Nnamdi Azikwe University, Nsukka, Ikenna Okeke, does not intend to seek employment anywhere with his degree. The soft-spoken young entrepreneur had one dream since his days as an undergraduate: to own a one-stop-shop for phone accessories in Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos.

Having completed his National Youth Service Corps programme on May 1, 2017, he opted to go through apprenticeship under the tutelage of his mentor in Anambra state to have a perfect grasp of his dream business at a time his peers were still crisscrossing the length and breadth of Nigeria for jobs.

Six months down the line, the Biochemistry graduate now plies his trade at the popular computer village in Lagos.

Why then did he spend four years studying Biochemistry when he had his eyes on the computer village all the while?
Hear him: “Education is very important. But I didn’t go to school because I wanted to seek employment after leaving school.

This is what I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve been saving for my business right from my days as an undergraduate.

When you look at people who are not educated, a great number of them can’t handle their accounts by themselves, they engage
people to do what they can ordinarily do. They can’t do the paper work.’’

However, Ifenna’s days, like other traders at Computer Village are numbered. His dream of making it big at Computer Village is about
to be shattered. This is because plans are underway by the Lagos state government to relocate the market to Katankowa in Agbado
Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area.

A source close to the Lagos state Government told The Daily Times that the planned relocation is hinged on the need to actualise the Ikeja City Master plan.

It added that it was part of the state government’s strategy aimed at addressing infrastructural challenges in the state capital.

Stakeholders react
Mechanical Engineer, Franklin Agali who sells phone accessories in the computer village, expressed mixed feelings about the planned
relocation of computer village.

“It could be for good and it could end my business for all I know. This place is central and very well known over the years. Relocating the whole business entity cannot be easy, but we are watching.

“If my business fails to flourish, then we look for something else to do,’’ he said sadly.

However, technician, Obi Francis is very optimistic. “I am prepared for whatever or wherever they carry Computer Village to. This is not the first time that Lagos state government is mouthing relocation of the market. We Igbos are always prepared. Anywhere they want us to go, we will go.

“For the past four years they have been talking about it. It even became instrument of threat and intimidation, but we are ready. It may be rough in the beginning, but we will adapt overtime,” Obi said.

But, Eze Nwankwo, a trader in the market,is apprehensive of the move if it becomes real.

Eze said, “As government is making their plans, I would be foolish to sit down and do nothing while they are planning to dislodge us here, but I won’t go just wherever we are relocated to and I know many of our people will not.

“This is the place I grew my business from scratch. I can’t imagine starting all over again in some strange place.’’
Expressing his view on the matter, another trader, Sola Omodeinde, said he is against the relocation.

“Do you know what it took most of us to relocate our head offices here? People already know this market. They come from other African countries to this place.

Instead of relocating this market, they can build another one where they are planning to relocate us; people will still go there.

“I can tell you that there are people here who have branch offices at Iyana Ipaja, Mushin and other parts of Lagos.

It doesn’t make sense for government to ask everybody to go to another place and start afresh. Computer Village is an international market,’’ he said.

No cause for alarm
In the midst of hues and cries of the traders, the Lagos State Commissioner of Information, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, in an interview
granted the BBC recently said the hue and cry in certain quarters over the relocation of Computer Village is understandable.

Ayorinde insists that the Lagos state Government means well. “It’s understandable if there is resistance to the relocation of
Computer Village, but with time, say, three to six months time, they will come to understand the good intention of this government.”