Infrastructure Decay and Economic Impact

Traders at Alaba International Market have raised the alarm over what they described as crippling extortion by government agencies and the deplorable state of the Olojo Drive and Ojo-Igbede Road corridor. The leadership of the market stated that the combination of multiple levies and failing infrastructure is threatening the survival of businesses in one of Africa's largest electronics markets.

President of Alaba International Market Electronics (IMAE), High Chief (Dr.) Camilus Amajuoyi, made the appeal during a press briefing ahead of the unveiling of the "New Face of Alaba" initiative. Amajuoyi lamented that while traders continue to pay substantial taxes and container-related charges to various tiers of government, little has been done to rehabilitate the major access roads.

The only major challenge that remains is our access road, and that is a story we cannot ignore. We have written several letters to different government authorities about the deplorable condition of the road leading to the market. Every week, hundreds of containers pass through this route. Because the road is in such terrible condition, containers sometimes topple over, damaging valuable goods.

— Camilus Amajuoyi, President, Alaba International Market Electronics (IMAE)

The poor state of the road has led to frequent accidents involving container-laden trucks, the destruction of goods worth millions of naira, and rising transportation costs. Amajuoyi noted that these goods are often purchased with bank loans, and the resulting financial losses disrupt both inbound and outbound business activities.

Allegations of Revenue Exploitation

The market leadership accused government agencies of continuing to collect heavy levies while neglecting the infrastructure that sustains commercial activities. Amajuoyi highlighted a pattern of bureaucratic buck-passing, noting that local authorities often claim the road belongs to the state government, despite all levels of government collecting revenue from the corridor.

Highlighting the scale of revenue collection, Amajuoyi alleged that more than 1,000 containers enter Alaba daily. He stated that authorities collect nearly N200,000 on every 40-foot container and about N150,000 on every 20-foot container. Despite these figures, traders have had to spend over N170 million of their own money to fill potholes with laterite and stones just to keep the route passable.

The irony is that the taxes and levies generated from Alaba by the federal, state and local governments are more than enough to reconstruct this road to international standards. More than 1,000 containers enter Alaba every day. Authorities collect close to N200,000 on every 40-foot container and about N150,000 on every 20-foot container, yet the road remains almost impassable.

— Camilus Amajuoyi, President, Alaba International Market Electronics (IMAE)

Market Transformation and Rebranding

Despite the infrastructure challenges, the market has embarked on a major transformation project aimed at repositioning Alaba as a modern and globally competitive commercial hub. The "New Face of Alaba" initiative follows consultations with government agencies, including LASEPA and local government authorities, focusing on reforms in infrastructure, customer service, and financial systems.

Amajuoyi also addressed long-standing misconceptions regarding the quality of goods in the market, insisting that Alaba has evolved into a significant manufacturing centre. He identified several indigenous brands based in the market and assured consumers that genuine traders issue invoices and honour product warranties.

I also want to address a long-standing misconception. People often tell buyers not to come to Alaba because they believe fake products are sold here. That is false. Alaba has evolved from being primarily an import market to becoming a centre for manufacturing.

— Camilus Amajuoyi, President, Alaba International Market Electronics (IMAE)

To further modernize operations, the association recently installed a solar-powered digital billboard valued at over N80 million to promote locally manufactured products. While urging the media to project these positive changes, the association called on the government to match the market's economic contributions with commensurate investment in public infrastructure.