Skepticism has continued to trail the Lagos State Government’s renewed plan to relocate Computer Village, Nigeria’s largest information and communication technology hub, from its current base in Ikeja to Katangowa in the Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area.

 

The state government recently issued an 18-month ultimatum to traders to vacate the present site and move to the proposed location. The announcement, made on September 25 by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Gbolahan Oki, sets the deadline for March 2027. Online publication services.

 

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The relocation idea, first unveiled in 2017 under the administration of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, has suffered multiple delays. Officials maintain that the Katangowa site is now equipped with the necessary infrastructure to support business operations once the transition begins.

However, an on-the-spot assessment by correspondents revealed a stark contrast between the government’s assurances and the reality on the ground.

 

The site, which was initially handled by Bridgeways Global Project Ltd, appears largely abandoned, overgrown with weeds, and currently serves as an informal dumpsite for surrounding traders. Apart from a lone LAWMA tractor spotted nearby, there was no visible construction activity or functional infrastructure at the location.

The main access road into the site, Ahmed Mohammed Road—constructed as part of the Lagos State ICT Park project—remains barely motorable, with ongoing but sluggish work by Tzipium Nigeria Ltd. A notice at the site indicated a six-month construction window, though workers declined to disclose progress details.

 

Meanwhile, the development has been entangled in legal disputes. Bridgeways Global Project Ltd, the original concessionaire of the Katangowa ICT Park, is currently in court with the Lagos State Government over what it described as the unlawful termination of its concession agreement. On October 12, Justice Mathias Dawodu of the Ikeja High Court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante pending the determination of the substantive suit, which has been adjourned to December 9, 2025.

 

Computer Village, located in Ikeja, generates an estimated ₦300 billion annually and houses about 3,000 ICT-related small and medium enterprises. Reports suggest that the market contributes roughly ₦1.5 billion daily to Nigeria’s economy, highlighting its strategic importance to the state government.

Despite this, many traders have expressed deep distrust toward the government’s latest relocation push. Some who spoke anonymously said that the project lacks transparency and official documentation confirming traders’ ownership rights at the new site. They also recalled that the land in Katangowa was originally designated for the market as far back as 2005 during the administration of former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

 

According to one trader, the issue has lingered for nearly two decades without meaningful progress. “Relocation discussions have been going on since Tinubu’s second tenure. Successive governments have only made promises without results,” he said. He further accused contractors of abandoning the project midway while allegedly collecting money from traders.

Some stakeholders believe the government should consider expanding Computer Village instead of enforcing relocation.

 

Wale Adedoyin, Chief Executive Officer of Network Solutions, suggested that Katangowa should serve as an extension, not a replacement. “Traders have invested heavily in Ikeja. Many own buildings here. How do you expect them to start afresh with ₦15 to ₦20 million in this economy?” he queried.

Another trader, identified as Stephen of Tech Paramount, dismissed the 18-month deadline as unrealistic. “Up till today, not a single newspaper sheet has been laid on the ground in Katangowa. Is 18 months feasible? The answer is no,” he stated.

 

In contrast, a member of the market task force overseeing the ‘Super’ and ‘New Site’ markets, who preferred anonymity, maintained that the relocation is achievable if the government shows genuine commitment. “If the government means business, the market can be completed within 18 months,” he said, pointing to a LAWMA tractor parked on the premises.

Efforts to reach the Iyaloja of Computer Village, Hon. Abisola Azeez, for comments were unsuccessful as she was reportedly unavailable at her office on Otigba Street, Ikeja, and did not respond to calls to her mobile phone.

 

The uncertainty surrounding the relocation continues to raise concerns among stakeholders who fear the project may once again end up as another unfulfilled government promise.