By Emmanuel Daniji

The leadership of the Mile 12 International Market has come under criticism from a market stakeholder, Mujaheed Salaam, who has accused the current administration of failing to deliver meaningful development despite the market’s significant economic activities.

Speaking on the situation at the market, Salaam alleged that the market generates millions of naira in revenue and daily economic activity, yet traders have seen little evidence of major infrastructure projects under the current leadership.

He particularly questioned the absence of what he described as significant projects executed by the present leadership, claiming that he had previously challenged anyone to identify a project worth at least ₦20 million built by the current administration.

According to Salaam, he even offered a ₦1 million reward to anyone who could point to such a project, but claimed that nobody had been able to take up the challenge.

Salaam said many traders initially welcomed the emergence of the current leadership, believing that having an educated person head one of West Africa’s largest food markets would translate into better management, improved infrastructure and greater attention to traders’ welfare.

However, he said those expectations had not been met.

“Good leadership is supposed to help people and bring positive change,” Salaam said, arguing that leadership at the market should be measured by the tangible improvements delivered to the people.

His concerns centred largely on accountability and the utilisation of resources generated from the market. He questioned what he described as the lack of visible projects capable of matching the economic importance of Mile 12.

Salaam argued that a market of such importance to Lagos and Nigeria’s food supply chain should have infrastructure that reflects its status, including improved roads, drainage, sanitation, security, storage facilities and other amenities that can make trading easier and safer.

He further criticised what he described as a leadership structure that appears to benefit a small group while leaving the wider trading community without sufficient development.

However, the allegations and criticisms remain the position of Salaam, and the market leadership has not, in the statement, been given an opportunity to respond to the claims.

For Salaam, the issue goes beyond personalities or politics. He believes traders deserve greater transparency and accountability over the management of the market and the resources generated from it.

As debate continues over the state of affairs at Mile 12 International Market, the central question raised by Salaam remains whether the leadership is delivering enough tangible development to justify the expectations of the traders it represents.