Oshodi is a prominent suburb of Lagos, Southwestern Nigeria, which stands out as a significant commercial and transportation hub and is renowned for hosting the Oshodi Market, one of Nigeria’s largest markets, and the Oshodi Transport Interchange, which holds the title of the largest bus terminal in Africa.
It has a long and interesting history. It’s one of the oldest areas in Lagos State, with roots going back to the early 1800s. Back then, it was a military base during the Yoruba Wars. Its location was important, which helped it grow and become significant.
Later, Oshodi became an official Local Government Area (LGA) under Governor Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, who was in charge of Lagos State during the second republic. The late Sir Isaac Ademolu Banjoko was chosen as its first Executive Chairman.
According to Wikipedia, Oshodi-Isolo LGA covers an area of 45 square kilometers, and had a population of 931,300 according to the 2022 Census. Today, the LGA is part of the Ikeja Division of Lagos State, and its contemporary governance is led by Honourable Kehinde Oloyede Al-Maroof, who began his term as Executive Chairman on August 1, 2021.
Most people across Nigeria, with the influence of social media, view Oshodi as a place of chaos;
Praise Osawaru, a former resident, highlighted the daily struggle of navigating Oshodi’s crowded pedestrian bridges and congested sidewalks, where vendors often obstruct walkways and pickpocketing incidents were common, citing the unfortunate event that met his friend.
“I remember when someone pickpocketed my friend’s phone, it can be that congested when you’re walking with your body bumping into people, going and coming”, Praise said.
Similarly, Eruobami Feranmi recalled witnessing a theft, “the first time I went to Oshodi was when I and my dad went to get suits and shoes, that was the time they stole an iPhone 12pro from someone’s pocket right before my eyes”
In contrast, Adeola Yekini, a lifelong resident, views Oshodi as a hub of opportunity rather than chaos. She noted that despite the occasional disorder, Oshodi provided her family with stable business opportunities that enabled her parents to support their children’s education. Living in Oshodi, she observed, teaches one to be street smart and resourceful.
OSHODI MARKET
Established in the early 1900s, Oshodi Market was a spectacular commercial hub that ranked among the largest in the Lagos metropolitan area and has been a focal point of trade for over a century.
The market’s origins date back to 1860, during the British colonial era in Nigeria, when it was founded to facilitate the slave trade. As one of the earliest beneficiaries of the 19th-century urban expansion, Oshodi’s growth was spurred by the British-built railway connecting Lagos to the northern regions, which enabled the transportation of laborers across the country and cement.
However, its reputation was marred by allegations of rampant criminal activities, including theft and robbery, which led government authorities to condemn the market and ultimately demolish it in January 2016. The government’s decision was multifaceted, driven by concerns about criminal activities compromising state security, traffic congestion, the need to align with the state’s megacity vision, and the necessity to accommodate the bus terminal.
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In 2015, the Lagos State government, under Akinwunmi Ambode’s leadership, issued a directive to relocate traders from Owonifari market that had been in the area for about 40 years to Oshodi Resettlement Market, formerly Isopakodowo (which was initially occupied by those into sawmill business), culminating in the demolition of the market.
The government’s rationale was that the site was initially earmarked for a modern bus terminal, and traders were reassigned to the newly constructed Oshodi Resettlement Market which was inaugurated by former governor Babatunde Fashola with a substantial N1 billion investment.
In Oshodi today, there are various market places, these include the whole Oshodi Market that cuts through Oshodi bus stop to Suwebatu street, Oshodi road where Abibat Mogaji Modern Market, popularly called ‘Kairo’, several plazas/complexes and Oshodi Resettlement Market lies, cutting to Araromi market and Macarthy market in Brown street, and Bolade Market that is situated opposite the Nigerian Army Shopping Arena, often referred to as “Arena Shopping Complex”
In an interview, Praise Osawaru who once lived in Oshodi expresses his view of Oshodi being a hub of opportunity, chaos and commerce, he said, “I lived in Bolade-Oshodi, whenever I was going to work in the morning it is always crowded. Oshodi is a crowded place. I see Oshodi as a hub of opportunity and chaos. There are lots of places that you can buy things in Oshodi”.
He highlighted the daily struggle of navigating Oshodi’s crowded pedestrian bridges and congested sidewalks, where vendors often obstructed walkways and pickpocketing incidents were common.
He also said, “There are businesses and opportunities, if you live in Oshodi you can easily commute to anywhere you’re going to. You can go to anywhere in Lagos from Oshodi. You can go to Ikorodu, anywhere in the mainland, and island. There are 3 Bus terminals, and it’s nice”, he said testifying to how Oshodi makes transportation around Lagos easier.
OSHODI TRANSPORTATION
The Oshodi Transport Interchange, inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari during his tenure, underscores the district’s strategic importance as a key transportation node, connecting various parts of Lagos and beyond.
According to Planet Projects Limited, the developers of the Oshodi Transport Interchange, Oshodi was Nigeria’s busiest transport hub, with over 5,600 buses loading daily across 13 motor parks, catering to approximately 200,000 passengers and 1 million pedestrians daily.
Despite its importance, Oshodi lacked essential transport infrastructure, such as walkways and bus shelters, leading to scattered and unorganized bus parks, on-street loading and unloading, and a degraded environment with poor facilities, overcrowding, and safety concerns.
Planet Projects Limited addressed these challenges by constructing the Oshodi Transport Interchange (OTI), a world-class business, tourism, and transport district focusing on transportation, security, environment, and urban renewal. The Interchange featured three multi-storey bus terminals with waiting areas, loading bays, ticketing stands, drivers’ lounges, parking, conveniences, surveillance towers, and CCTV gadgets.
As designed and built by Planet Projects Limited, additional features included accessible walkways, pedestrian bridges/skywalks linking the terminals, shopping malls with street lighting, and a dedicated security team.
In Lagos, people say that if you’re lost, just head to Oshodi and you willl be able to find your way to wherever you want to go. That’s because Oshodi is a major landmark that links many areas of the city, including Agege, Berger, Lekki-Ajah, Ikeja, Agbado-Ijaiye, Bariga, Sango-Ota, Ketu, Mushin, Iyana Ipaja, Mushin, Yaba, and several others. It’s like a central hub that can help you navigate your way around the state.
While Oshodi was once notorious for its rowdiness and crime, these developments have reshaped its image. The Oshodi Transport Interchange is an improvement in Oshodi’s infrastructure, turning it into a model of urban development and transportation excellence.
It now stands as a major landmark in Lagos, connecting various parts of the city and providing a safer, more organized environment for both intra-city and intercity passengers.
By: Olamide Ayoade
The post FEATURE: Oshodi, a commerce, transport hub with rich history appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Naomisophyblog.
