CSO donates vehicles to assist traders in Trade Fair traveling for Easter

…… Unveils plans to take market to higher levels, bring Lagos State govt closer

Traders in the Trade Fair Complex, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State who intend to travel out of Lagos during the Easter Celebration, have a course to smile as the Chief Security Officer, CSO, Association of Progressive Traders (APT) in the complex, High Chief Chuka Christian Mekaowulu has donated 2 Sienna cars to support travelers.

Speaking at his office on Tuesday, High Chief Mekaowulu noted that while the first bus departs on Saturday, 30th March, the second would leave on Monday, 1st April.

According to him, his office is also strategizing to as usual further beef up security around the market area, including an arrangement to have army personnel patrol the vicinity during the Easter holiday thereby ensuring maximum protection for traders’ shops.

He said, “Serious plans are being made to beef up security around the Trade Fair area. For instance, on Wednesday 27th March, we had a CSO meeting, because I am the chairman of all the CSOs. I called them for a meeting to plan how to make sure that we have a conducive environment during the Easter holidays. After the meeting, the following day Thursday, the 28th, we will go and see the army. We usually have army personnel patrolling the Trade Fair, that’s how we do it to avoid stories that touch the heart.
To assist some of our members who would be traveling, I have donated 2 Sienna cars. The first one will take off from Saturday, while the second will take off from Monday. It is proper that those who have the means should assist others, after all the Bible says that God blesses the hand that gives.”, he said.

High Chief Mekaowulu in the exclusive interview with Correspondent Innocent Onoh also unveiled his vision to take the market to the next level of progress through the provision of modern facilities to control fire outbreaks, recruit mobile cleaners for enhanced sanitation, employ more youths and further strengthen relationship with Lagos state government.

He maintained that for sustainable progress and overall well-being of the market to be achieved, traders should throw their weights behind the state government and ruling party, APC. He disclosed his preparedness to lead the market as the president if the masses need him, adding that with his vast experience,he is the most qualified person to lead the market to the next level after the expiration of the tenure of the current leadership.

Read the full interview below;

Question (Q) : Can we meet you, Sir?

Answer (Ans): My name is High Chief Chuka Christian Mekaowulu, I am here as the Chief Security Officer at, the Association of Progressive Traders in Trade Fair, Lagos.

Q. This market has been identified as among the most peaceful, secure, and orderly, how are you able to achieve that?

A: One with God is the majority. APT is for God and God rules in APT. I am a very peaceful man and a very active CSO.
Every morning, I meet with my SA, and we will be here at least 6:30 am to examine our security arrangement and ways of solidifying it even more. We do that every day, except on Saturday and Sunday, and we leave around 8 pm and sometimes 9 pm. Sometimes, if we have emergency issues, we come on weekends. With this, I can achieve 80 percent of my mandate. When you monitor your security men often, there won’t be any problem. Many of these people do not earn much, yet they are securing goods worth billions of naira. So, it is proper to checkmate them. If you are less concerned, there would be a lot of foul plays and illegalities.
It is not as if we don’t have bad eggs; we have them and even oppositions, but as an active CSO, I try to confront all issues promptly, we make sure that at any point in time, things are under control. I believe in action, when there is an issue, we confront and settle it immediately, and it ends there.

Q. With your impressive performance as the CSO in this market, some of your people would be expecting to see you occupy higher positions shortly. What are your plans?

A: I had always believed that I would be a politician, so I am working towards that. But for now, I am still here as the Chief PRO of APT and likewise APT Chief Security Officer, two heavy posts. Like Fashola during Buhari’s regime, he held three key posts. So now I am Fashola of our time here. But I know that by the grace of God and by the help of the masses, I know that after completing my 8 years, I need to move up. But for now, no seat is vacant.

Q: What if your people in this market wish to elect you the President of the market because of your outstanding performance as CSO, will you be pleased to accept the responsibility?

A. If it is the Will of God and the will of the masses, I have no option but to go for it. If after our tenure elapses, the masses decide that I be their president, I will serve them.
As Chief Security Officer for 8 years, I think I will be the most qualified candidate in terms of market leadership. A market leader will defend the association and the market, one who will give the masses what they want.

Q. What would be your manifesto should you accept to vie for the position of the President of the market in the next election?

A. My biggest vision is to bring the Lagos State Government closer to our doorstep. I will make sure we are in partnership with the state government. Like now, I am on their side and we have a very cordial relationship. I am strongly in support of our President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and close to some of his men.
I know what it takes to be a Chief Security Officer and an active one. Before I took over, many things were happening in our market, there were cases of breaking of shops and other illegalities. Some belong to the cartel that didn’t obey the rules of the market. For instance, if you say close shops by 5 pm, those people will be here 7 to 8 pm. Immediately I took over, I put a stop to all that, even gambling.
If I become the next market president, a lot of things will be put in place to take this market to a higher level. I will make sure we have functional fire service facilities for prompt response to fire incidents. I will make sure our market will be cleaner by engaging an increased number of mobile cleaners. Also, I will employ young people as the future belongs to the youth.
Most importantly, I will explore every avenue to increase and solidify the relationship we have with the state government. I want a situation where the government is brought closer to us. So I plan to make the relationship stronger.
In 2014, I registered as an APC member at 3rd Avenue which is my ward. Till today, I am a member of APC because I so much believe that you must give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and Jesus what belongs to Jesus. We are in an APC state, we must be in the APC to achieve anything we want to achieve. Because of the good relationship that I have with the State Government, most of the issues we have in this market are treated and resolved without stress. When our people come with their complaints, once we take them to Alausa, they are resolved without delay.
So, I will bring Lagos State closer to us because they are the owners of the land, you cannot take it away from them. If you must succeed in your endeavors, you must have a good relationship and synergy with them. They need us and we need them.

Q. What’s your plan for Easter?

A: Serious plans are being made to beef up security around the Trade Fair area. For instance, on Wednesday 27th March, we have a CSO meeting, because I am the chairman of all the CSOs. I called them for a meeting to plan how to make sure that we have a conducive environment during the Easter holidays. After the meeting, the following day Thursday, the 28th, we will go and see the army. We usually have army personnel patrolling the Trade Fair, that’s how we do it to avoid stories that touch the heart.
To assist some of our members who would be traveling, I have donated 2 Sienna cars. The first one will take off from Saturday, while the second will take off from Monday. It is proper that those who have the means should assist others, after all the Bible says that God blesses the hand that gives.