Alhaji Lawal Biliya Adam is a business man with many years of experience especially in perishable food items. He is in his early fifties. He is an indigene of Kano. He is well travelled. He has been to African countries like Ghana and Benin Republic as well as Germany, in Europe. He is a major stakeholder in the affairs of the Hausa traders in Mile 12 market, Lagos state. He currently oversees the running of the secretariat of the Union of Perishable Food Items. He is presently the general secretary of the body.
In a one on one interview with Oladele Hakeem of Naij.com, he bares his mind on the state of infrastructures in the market and what he expects from Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to do for the traders. He also spoke on certain germane political issues and concluded by saying that Nigerians should exercise more patience with President Muhammadu Buhari. Excerpts:
Alhaji Lawal Biliya Adam
Mile 12 market is an old market. When actually did business begin in the market?
This market started about 30 years ago. There was a market of this type in Edo state 33 years ago before an idea for Mile 12 market was brought up.
As someone who takes charge of the body sometimes. Who then is the current chairman?
The market has two sections. There is one for the yam sellers and the other for the perishable food items. The chairman of the perishable food items is Alhaji Yahuza Alhassan.
People come in from far and near to buy tomatoes, onions, pepper and other perishable goods from the market. What is the economic value of the market to Lagos state and Nigeria as a whole?
Mile 12 perishable food items market has numerous economic importance. This is not just to the Northern traders. It goes beyond just Lagos and Nigeria, but Africa and the world. This is because, several traders come from outside Nigeria to buy tomatoes and other items here. In a day, 1,500 tonnes of tomatoes alone are sold here. At least, 50 trailers bring in tomatoes regularly. While 450 kilogrammes of tomatoes are sold at a go.
The significance of this market was glaring during the Tollgate years. There was a year roadblocks were mounted by the government then. This was a big challenge on us because our trailers carried perishable food items. We delayed there. This led to a big financial loss on our part, as buyers were not willing to buy our condemned tomatoes.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is a couple of months old in office. Do you have any pressing issues you want him to address in the market?
Yes and Yes. We really supported Governor Ambode during the last governorship election. We the Hausa traders here in Mile 12 have always been supporting the government of Lagos state. We have always been in the progressive party. Right from the days of Social Democratic Party (SDP) and National Republican Convention (NRC) in the early 1990s to Alliance for Democracy (AD) to Action Congress (AC). Then from there to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and now finally to All Progressives Congress (APC).
We are in dire need of good roads. The present state of the roads are nothing to write home about. Also, we need a second gate that will help to reduce traffic in the market as there is only one major entrance to the market. In addition, we need a ring road in the market. We want the governor to touch all these and many more facilities in the market.
Nigerians are itching to start seeing the gains of democracy from the APC led federal government. Do you think President Muhammadu has really achieved much?
Anyone that says President Buhari has not achieved anything is not being sincere with himself. Firstly, lets look at the power sector. The number of megawatts has increased to more than 4,000 now. This was not the case previously. Electricity supply has tremendously improved.
Looking at his fight against corruption and corrupt people, he doing so much. I have a brother of mine who wanted to join the Nigerian Police Force during the last administration. He was asked to bring Naira 100 Thousand as a sort of bribe. We could not afford it. But when he went now, he paid no kobo. Ditto, the president has made it clear that 10,000 youths would be recruited into the police force
In addition, Buhari has resuscitated the moribund refineries. Almost all the refineries are now functioning.
What I believe in is that President Buhari needs our prayers, patience and support.
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