Lagos govt moves to relocate computer village, traders engaged on Katangowa ICT park

By Isaac Joseph Inyang

The bustling hub of technology known as Computer Village may soon bid farewell to Ikeja, as the Lagos state government intensifies efforts to relocate the market to the emerging Katangowa ICT and business park.

At a recent stakeholder engagement, authorities assured traders that the plan is not only about physical movement but also about reshaping the face of commerce in Lagos.

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For decades, Computer Village has been the lifeline of Nigeria’s phone and gadget market, but with its growth has come a tide of congestion, pressure on infrastructure, and chaotic business patterns.

Officials explained that the relocation is part of a broader urban renewal strategy aimed at restoring Ikeja to its intended residential order while creating an organised and more profitable environment for technology businesses.

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Permanent Secretary of the Office of Urban Development, Gbolahan Oki, speaking at the meeting, emphasized that the government is committed to carrying stakeholders along every step of the way.

According to him, the Katangowa ICT park will be equipped with modern amenities from banking halls and hotels to proper security, car parks and recreational centres designed to give traders and customers a seamless experience. He described the project as a vision of transformation, not displacement.

Market leaders, while reacting, acknowledged the weight of the move but welcomed the prospects of a more structured and globally competitive business space. Iyaloja of Computer Village, Chief Abisola Azeez, noted that beyond initial fears, the relocation offers a chance for traders to expand their reach in a cleaner, safer and more coordinated environment.

The relocation project, first conceived years ago, had been slowed by contractual and development hitches, but with the Sanwo-Olu administration reviving discussions, the idea is now back on the front burner.

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Questions still linger about the timeline and how small traders will adapt to new costs and conditions, but the government insists that inclusivity and fairness will define the process.

As negotiations continue, the story of Computer Village seems poised to take a dramatic turn from the crowded streets of Ikeja to a modern ICT hub in Katangowa.

For the traders, it is a test of trust in government promises; for Lagos, it is a bold step in reimagining how Africa’s largest tech market can thrive in a city yearning for order.