Olusegun Adeyemo
The bustling Computer Village in Ikeja, Nigeria’s largest hub for information and communications technology (ICT) products, may be facing its twilight years. The Lagos State Government has handed traders an 18-month deadline to vacate the iconic marketplace and relocate to a newly built permanent site at Katangowa in the Agbado/Oke-Odo area.
The directive was announced by Gbolahan Oki, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, during a stakeholders’ meeting with market leaders and traders on Tuesday.
According to Oki, the Katangowa site—spanning 15 hectares—has been equipped with modern infrastructure and facilities to provide a more structured and environmentally friendly marketplace. “The time frame is 18 months, and it’s critical that we bring this project to fruition,” he said.
Efforts to move Computer Village to Katangowa date back to 2006 but were repeatedly delayed due to incomplete infrastructure at the new site and opposition from traders concerned about losing business in Ikeja’s central location. The renewed push reflects Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s urban planning agenda and his administration’s vow to enforce zoning laws, as Computer Village was originally designated a residential area.
For many traders, the looming relocation sparks unease. Computer Village has grown into a cultural and economic landmark, drawing customers from across Nigeria and beyond. Critics argue that uprooting the market could disrupt livelihoods and weaken its competitive edge.
Oki, however, reassured traders that the government is committed to ensuring a smooth transition. “Katangowa will not just be a relocation—it will be a transformation into a global-standard ICT hub. The governor is focused on infrastructure development and improving the welfare of Lagosians,” he said.
The relocation marks a turning point for Lagos. While the government frames the move as modernization, traders see it as the possible end of an era for the market that has defined Nigeria’s tech trade for decades.
Whether Katangowa will replicate the vibrancy of Computer Village or signal its final curtain remains to be seen.