Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has assured the occupiers of old Ogunpa market, Ibadan of consideration in the allocation of stalls and shops in the rebuilt Ogunpa modern market.
He spoke yesterday during his visit to the project site.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the government in 2015 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kamiluiz Nigeria Ltd for the building of Ogunpa modern market in four phases.
The project, which began in January last year, is 70 per cent complete.
The market is expected to have 1,000 lock-up shops, 366 open stalls, 70-car capacity parking lot, ultra-modern health centre, fire station, toilets and police post.
Ajimobi urged the traders to reciprocate the government’s gesture in rebuilding the market by exhibiting good environmental attitude to prevent and stamp out infections and contagious diseases.
He said 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 would 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, to avert infections and diseases.
“This is the only way to ensure funds to be used in developing yourself are not spent in hospitals,’’ the governor said.
He said the stalls would be allocated at a minimal and affordable rate to the traders, and urged them to ensure they meet the loan obligations to avoid forfeiture.
The project contractor, Mr Kamil Orotoye, said the Ajumose-Ogunpa International Market would compete with any international market in Nigeria and beyond, when completed.
He praised the governor for the project, saying his administration would never be forgotten.
Elder Joel Ogundele, the market leader, said the present administration had done what successive governments could not do, hailing Ajimobi for modernising the market.