Lagos Government Relocates Okobaba Plank Market to Agbowa
The Lagos State Government has triumphantly announced the relocation of the Okobaba Plank Market from Ebute Meta to the newly established Timberville site in Agbowa.
As an integral component of the resettlement strategy, the government has provided 260 units of two-bedroom apartments to house the displaced merchants.
This significant development was unveiled by Dr. Olajide Babatunde, Special Adviser to the Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
“We have not only transferred the traders from Okobaba to Timberville in Agbowa, but we have also ensured their comfort by furnishing them with 260 two-bedroom apartments,” Babatunde stated.
He elucidated that this initiative exemplifies the state government’s dedication to inclusive urban development, guaranteeing that relocated communities are endowed with adequate infrastructure and housing.
Babatunde further disclosed that 21 major markets throughout Lagos—including Computer Village, Abule Egba, Katangowa, Pelewura, Alabama Transnational Market, and Jankara Gorodome—are presently at various stages of relocation, revitalization, and comprehensive redevelopment.
He remarked that these undertakings are being executed under the aegis of the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA).
“We are repositioning these markets to be safer, more accessible, and better organized through LASURA’s comprehensive market redevelopment plan,” he asserted.
He emphasized that the state government is committed to fostering a superior trading environment for myriad traders and consumers.
In the context of the state’s broader urban renewal agenda, he highlighted that LASURA is endeavoring to halve slum areas and squatter settlements annually through planned infrastructure enhancements, inclusive development, and robust community engagement.
Babatunde also divulged that the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) certified 140 professionals last year to serve as accreditors.
These experts, he noted, meticulously review construction plans, conduct thorough inspections, and monitor buildings that fail to comply with standards—all with the objective of preventing collapses and ensuring public safety.
He revealed that LASBCA identified 8,663 building violations over the past year and issued 1,136 permits for construction projects across the state.
The government is poised to redevelop the Ipodo slum in Ikeja with a human-centered approach that honors the needs of the community and the environment, aspiring for sustainable and inclusive growth.
Moreover, the Lagos State Government has introduced a 30% rebate for individuals constructing Green Eco-houses, demonstrating a definitive move towards greener, climate-friendly urban development.
