The Oyo state Governor Abiola Ajimobi has disclosed that the first set of new markets to be constructed by his administration across the Ibadan metropolis would be ready within the next three months.
The governor, who made the disclosure while receiving the Chairman of Wemabod Estates Limited, Dr. Ismail Adebayo Adewusi and other board members who were on a courtesy visit to his office said that the second phase would commence immediately after the completion of the first phase.
The move by the Ajimobi administration is to fullfill the governor’s promise to relocate displaced traders occupying illegal structures across the Ibadan metropolis, as he took a tour of the town to identify with the displaced traders and assure them that more befitting and safer shops would be given to them soon.
Within the Oyo state capital all illegal shops, kiosks and shanties are being demolished to give way for a planned and aesthetically befitting outlook, against the cries of discomfort and frustrations by the traders but Gov. Ajimobi led accompanied by all members of the executive during the tour empathise with the traders and give them hope of continued livelihood.
He promised that every displaced trader would be given new shops at the neighbourhood market nearby within the next few months.
Gov. Ajimobi disclosed that the neighbourhood markets will be located at both sides of the old toll gate at the Ibadan end of Lagos-Ibadan Express Road; Temidire Market, New Ife Road; Scout Camp, Challenge; Samonda, adjacent to Oyo State Trade Fair Complex and Oke-Bola Area. He added that additional stalls would be fixed at Ibadan South West Local Government Area as well as rehabilitation of the popular Adamasingba Shopping Complex.
In a related development, the board of Wemabod Estates led by its chairman Dr. Ismael Adewusi promised to provide at least 500 low cost housing units to the people of Oyo state. Gov.Ajimobi lauded the initiative and charged Wemabod Estates to join in the construction of the markets on public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement across the entire state.
Ajimobi said the Oyo state government is willing and ready to partner with Wemabod Estates owned by the O’dua conglomerate in the planned construction of new motor parks and development of New GRA at Idi-Ishin area of Ibadan and the restructuring of the existing GRAs to accommodate more houses of different categories.
Meanwhile, the Rivers state governor and chairman Governor’s forum, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, commended the Oyo state governor for bringing further development to the state and changing the face of the state capital, Ibadan to a clean and comfortable place for the people.
Governor Amaechi stated this during a courtesy visit to Senator Abiola Ajimobi at the Governor’s office, shortly after commiserating with the families of late Justice Kayode Esho at his Ikolaba, Ibadan residence.
The rivers state governor said that contrary to widespread belief that Ibadan was extremely dirty without exception, he was actually impressed with what was on ground in the ancient city in terms of aesthetics and development.
He said further that he is hoping that the economy of the state would be repositioned through the transformation agenda of Governor Ajimobi.
Speaking on the position of the Governors’ Forum on the on-going constitution review, governor Amaechi said the forum believes that the practice of true federalism is germain to the development and political stability in Nigeria.
While reacting to the issue of the creation of state police, governor Amaechi said discussion is on-going with other members on the necessity of state police in reducing the rate of crimes in Nigeria, stating that the impression given by a section of the media that there was disagreement among the governors was not a true representation of the meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Reacting, Governor Ajimobi described Amaechi as a man with special ability to manage human beings, as attested to in his handling of the governors in Nigeria, stating that Amaechi had encouraged public office holders to be honest and courageous, even as politicians.
While commending Amaechi for the development he had brought to Rivers State, Ajimobi expressed the willingness to take a cue from the developmental programmes of Rivers, stating that he was willing to benchmark on the best practises that had made Rivers state a model state in infrastructural development.
