Lagos Traders Honour Lateef Jakande, Shut Markets

The first civilian governor of Lagos State, Lateef Jakande, has been honoured by traders in the South West state.

Naija News reports that the Iyaloja-General of Lagos, Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, has ordered the closure of markets in the state to respect and honour Jakande.

In a notice on Thursday, Tinubu-Ojo said the traders are shutting down markets to respect the former governor who dedicated his time to develop the state.

She, however, enjoined all market leaders to comply with the directive.

“We are shutting down all markets tomorrow as a way of mourning our late father. We all know he was the former Governor of Lagos who dedicated his time to develop the state and dedicating a day in his honour is a good thing. I enjoin all market leaders and traders to comply with this directive,” she said.

Recall that Jakande passed away on February 11 at the age of 91. He was governor of Lagos from 1979 to 1983 and was later appointed minister of works by Sani Abacha in 1993.

His policies centered on low-income groups and the middle class. He taxed the rich to take care of the poor. He built 30,000 housing units in estates across Lagos and provided free primary and secondary education.

Jakande founded the Lagos State University and started the metro line project to ease the transportation burden in the state.