Tourists want LASG to develop Epe Fish Market to boost revenue

Mon, Sep 3, 2018 | By publisher


Entertainment

Some tourists who visited the Epe Fish Market on Monday appealed to the Lagos State Government (LASG) to urgently develop the market  in order to generate more revenue.

The tourists who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Epe on Monday lamented the poor condition of the market.

They said that with its current state, prospective buyers would not want to patronise it and that it would have negative impact on expected revenue.

Mr John Obiakwe said that he was disappointed at the poor condition of the fish market.

“This is my first time of coming to the fish market but I am not impressed with what I saw about the condition of its stalls.

“I have been hearing of Epe Fish Market for years but this is my first visit; the environment is not appealing at all.

“I believe the traders pay tax, the government should use the taxes to upgrade the market to an international standard,’’ he said.

A researcher, Mr Tope Richard, said that he had been coming to Epe Market for over three years but nothing has changed in the market arena.

“I used to come to Epe to carry out research, on such occasions, I used to visit the fish market for sightseeing. I am not impressed with the conditions of the market and its environment.

“The market is an old edifice and is supposed to be a tourist’s attraction centre in the community; but there is nothing attractive in the environment,’’ he said.

An Italian, Mrs Moreen Bassey,, said that she got to know about the existence of the market when she browsed the internet.

“I work in Nigeria but I have never visited Epe before. I had promised myself to come one day; that is the reason why I am here today.

“I used to read from books that Epe is the fish hub of Lagos, where one can get varieties of fish to buy at reasonable prices.

“I found several types of fish to buy from the market but I was not impressed with the environment and its facilities.

“There is the need for proper sanitation and cleaning of the environment and the government needs to support the initiative.

“I wish to see the environment in a good condition when next I come on a visit,’’ she said.

Mr Henry Dalington urged the state government to build hotels, resorts and other tourism facilities around the market.

He said that the provision of such infrastructure would attract more local and international tourists to the market.

“The market is an old heritage that government should develop to boost its revenue generation.

“If government can upgrade the centre to an international standard, it will boost its revenue, alleviate poverty and create more employment opportunities,’’ he said.

Also, the Chairman of Epe Local Government, Mr Adedoyin  Adesanya, said that the market was government’s  property.

He said that there was an ongoing plan to upgrade the centre to an international standard.

Adesanya urged the traders selling in the market to pay their taxes on regular basis to assist the government do the needful within the market environment. (NAN)

– Sept. 3, 2018 @ 15:45 GMT |

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