Akeem Oguntayo
2 November 2009
Benin — Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole has said that for effective and conducive business environment that would bring about economic development, the state would replicate the new Ikeja Military cantonment ultra-modern market in Lagos.
The governor also said that the state will soon wield the big stick against incessant blockages of major roads for burial ceremonies and other festivities in the city and possibly abolish them.
In a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant on Media,to the governor, Mr. John Mayaki said, "There is a proposal to build an international ultra-modern market in the state, and the governor has set up a committee to see to the realisation of this project.".
"The governor cannot accept that Benin City should be an abandoned city in the name of ancient city and poverty cannot be the reason why people would have to abandon the markets for the Roads to trade.
"The governor has to find some courage to clean up the city and the hardship on the people is clearly unintended in the course of righting the wrong. There are existing markets that are under-utilised and as such, we have to get the traders out of the Roadside to free traffic in the city.
"For instance, Ring Road and King Square, New Benin Market, Santana Market along Sapele Road where the Governor personally visited under heavy down pour, Oregbeni and Etiosa Markets and the other one on 3rd junction by Muritala Muhammad way.
"There was a proposal by a consortium of investors in conjunction with South African partners who successfully executed and turned the former Mammy Market at the Ikeja Military cantonment to an international ultra-modern market and this, Governor Oshiomhole decided to set up a committee to see how the state can replicate in Edo State.
"Some of the facilities would include modern stores with convenience, trailer and car park, Open shops, modern abattoirs and several other outlets. The suitable location would be determined by the Ministry of Lands and Survey", Mayaki stated.
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2009 Daily Champion. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
It is a most sensible thing to do to regulate trading activities in Benin City and the rest of Edo State. Frankly speaking, this has been an on-going process with various governments failing to successfully tackle the problem of street trading. Apart from the hinderance caused on the streets, uncontrolled trading habits has contributed to making Benin City untidy. It's time to clean up the city and I believe Comrade Adams Oshiomole knows what he is doing. Let's encourage him, I would say.
It is a most sensible thing to do to regulate trading activities in Benin City and the rest of Edo State. Frankly speaking, this has been an on-going process with various governments failing to successfully tackle the problem of street trading. Apart from the hinderance caused on the streets, uncontrolled trading habits has contributed to making Benin City untidy. It's time to clean up the city and I believe Comrade Adams Oshiomole knows what he is doing. Let's encourage him, I would say.