The Ogunpa Market located along Dugbe Alawo, one of the busiest commercial areas of Ibadan, has sadly been in a deplorable state for years. However, the Oyo State government, as part of its reformation agenda, brought smiles to the faces of the Ogunpa market community as it presented a reconstruction initiative borne out of a public private partnership between the Oyo State government and developers, Kamiluiz Nigeria Limited.For this purpose, a meeting was set up for government officials and the Ogunpa market community to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the State Secretariat in Agodi, Ibadan.Addressing pressmen, Honourable Wasiu Olatunbosun, Chairman of Ibadan North West Local Government Area, stressed the commitment of the Oyo State government under the leadership of Senator Abiola Ajimobi towards ensuring that the market is upgraded to international standards.The Special Adviser to the government on Physical and Urban Planning, Waheed Gbadamosi, corroborated that the initiative was a product of the government's reformation agenda to upgrade markets to international standards.According to him, bringing an end to roadside trading in Oyo State has gained ascendancy in the reformation ladder of the state government to mitigate, if not totally eradicate, the disasters that have been attributed to such trading conditions.In his speech, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Land, Alhaji Oladipupo, implored the the market community to give its maximum support and cooperation to the government to enable a swift progress of the project.'The governor does not want to take this project for granted and that is why we have assembled a technical committee. The contractors are internationally known and very competent so if you cooperate with them, the project will be completed in no time just as you wish,' he concluded.Also, the Managing Director of Kamiluiz Nigeria Limited, Kamilu Orotoye, gave an explicit description of the project which would be completed within six months and has been put at an expense of N957billion as thus.The building project, he said, would 'be divided into four phases. Dugbe Alawo phase one which will house 241 lock up shops and a garage space for 85 cars, a health centre and modern conveniences. The phase two of the project will be the Old Gbagi area housing 84 lock up shops, a fire station and a police post. The phase three of the project will house 366 open shops, a car park that can take 70 cars and public toilets. The phase four area has been designated to house a massive car park and bathrooms.'He added that the governor approved the project on Thursday, 15 January, however, the commencement date has not been fixed.The Babaloja of Ogunpa Market, Chief James Ogundele, pledged the traders' full support for the Oyo State government. However, he inquired if the government had a strategic plan that would not restrict business transactions while construction was in progress. Olatunbosun assured the traders that they will not be evicted without an alternative. He added that the Dugbe Alawo and Old Gbagi roads will be closed to vehicles so that the traders can use them for business transaction once the project commences.
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