New Ogunpa Market: Ajimobi assures traders of consideration in stalls allocation
NAN-H-39
Market
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, June 1, 2017 (NAN) Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has assured current occupiers of old Ogunpa market, Ibadan of consideration in the allocation of stalls and shops in the rebuilt Ogunpa modern market.
The governor gave the assurance during his visit to the project site in Ibadan on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government in 2015 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kamiluiz Nigeria Limited for the construction of Ogunpa modern market in four phases.
The project, which began in January 2016, is presently, 70 percent complete.
The market is expected to have 1000 lock-up shops, 366 open stalls, 70-car capacity parking lot, ultramodern health centre, fire station, toilets and police post.
Ajimobi urged the market women and traders to reciprocate government’s gesture in rebuilding the market by exhibiting good environmental attitude to prevent and stamp out infections and contagious diseases in the state.
He said that his administration would assist the traders to access loans from banks for shop allocations and capital to continue their businesses.
“Government owes people the responsibility of securing development in every facet of life and we have not relented in doing this.
“We pledged to God and the people that we will make tangible and substantial changes in the lives of our people if elected. Today, we are fulfilling the pledge.
“We have put up a modern market for your sake and you must play your part by taking good control of the environment.
“You must ensure that your members don’t dump waste indiscriminately around here to avert infections and diseases.
“This is the only way to ensure funds to be used in developing yourself are not spent at the hospital,’’ the governor said.
Ajimobi said that the stalls would be allocated at a minimal and affordable rate to the traders, and urged them to ensure they met all the loan obligations to avoid forfeiture.
The project contractor, Mr Kamil Orotoye, said that the Ajumose-Ogunpa International Market would compete with any international market in Nigeria and beyond, when completed.
Orotoye commended the governor on the project, saying his administration would never be forgotten in the history of the state.
Elder Joel Ogundele, the market leader of Ogunpa market, said that the present administration had done what successive governments could not do, commending Ajimobi for modernising the market.
Ogundele pleaded with the governor to assist the traders financially, especially with soft loans, so that they could meet up with the requirements of securing shop allocation and remaining in business. (NAN)
TAA/COF/SOA
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Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Oluwole Sogunle