The Engineer ‘Seyi Makinde-led government in Oyo State recently commissioned the newly remodeled Bola Ige International Market Health Centre Gbagi, Ibadan.
The Commissioner for Trade, Investment, Industry and Cooperative, Otunba Ademola Ojo performed the commissioning on behalf of the state government.
In his brief address shortly before going to officially commission the health facility, ‘Ijaya’ as the Commissioner is fondly called said the move was part of a big market development agenda across the state under the present administration.
While soliciting for the full support and cooperation of the market leadership in helping the government succeed in its agenda, Otunba assured that whatever policies or program that would be embarked upon in repositioning the market would be ultimately be in the best interest of traders and market operators.
Otunba Ojo lamented how mismanagement of the popular market has derailed its original master plan leading to avoidable inconveniences for both traders and commuters within and around the market stressing the need for all hands to be on deck on the ongoing repositioning plan.
The Commissioner who spoke in Yoruba language commended the consultant in charge of the market, Afia Construction, for doing an impressive job with the ongoing works in the market while equally expressing the confidence of the state government in the company’s ability to deliver on the job.
“The consultant got this job because the government believes in the company’s ability to deliver. Over 20 companies bidded for the consultancy job but our consultant was selected because of our faith in his ability to perform and deliver on the job.
“We’ve also been saying to stakeholders that government has its own agenda for market development across the state because things can not continue to be done the same way without necessary improvements and changes because even the whole world is changing.
“However, the assurance we will give you as government is that whatever agenda the government has under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde, it will be for your ultimate benefits.” The commissioner said.
He explained how Governor Makinde has, through his visionary leadership transformed the state in terms of road network and infrastructural development within the last five years to what all other states in Nigeria now envy saying it was due to the prudent management of available resources and called on the traders and market leaders to encourage the governor by fully cooperating with his policies and programs.
“We don’t want any crisis in this market and we don’t want issues of interest groups taking turns to complain to government instead of managing your affairs internally as one and allowing the market to grow in line with the vision of establishing it. So, we all have to work together to ensure the governor is also impressed with what we’re doing here and I can assure you that no government agenda will have negative impact on the market.” The commissioner added.
In their separate remarks, the chairman of Gbagi market, Alhaji Gani Adetayo and the Babaloja-General of Oyo state, Alhaji Y. K. Abass commended the state government for the ongoing repositioning of the market and the renovated healthcare centre while assuring of their full support in ensuring compliance with government directives and policies and cooperation with the consultant in charge.
The duo acknowledged that the impact of the ongoing market repositioning was already being felt noting that the healthcare facility would enhance the overall well-being of the market community and promote economic growth by creating more attractive conditions for businesses to thrive.
The Primary Healthcare Coordinator, Egbeda Local Government, Mrs. Felicia Olaniyan, while commending Governor Makinde for his visionary leadership and revival of the health facility in the market appealed for the recruitment of health workers to bridge the gap between the large number of retiring workers and those still in active service while assuring that health workers would be deployed to the market healthcare centre for immediate operation.
In his brief remarks, the chairman and managing director of Afia Construction, Alhaji Abduljelyl Adekunle Karheem, said the healthcare facility was part of the demands of the market operators in the ongoing repositioning and assured that the well-being of traders and commuters within and around the market would remain a top priority in line with the original plan of the market.
Present at the event included the Director of Trade and other top officials from the ministry, healthcare officials, and executive members of Gbagi market.
Credit: naija24hrs.com
