The re-construction of the new Akesan Market Complex in Oyo town has begun.
This came as Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State flagged off the project, saying that apart from its upgrade, a modern fire station would be built in the market.
He said this was in order to prevent future occurrence of such incidents.
It will be recalled that the governor had, on January 8, promised to rebuild the burnt 400-year-old market when he visited the scene of the fire outbreak.
In his address on the occasion, the governor said the first phase of the project, billed for completion in six months, would have 352 lock-up shops, one police post, a modern toilet with 12 units for male and female, one administrative block, and a road network.
He added that the second phase would have 176 lock-up shops, 168 open shops, three warehouses as well as modern toilets and a road network.
It was learnt that the contract was awarded to a local contractor at the cost of N781, 716, 820:15.
Governor Makinde said, “On January 8, we visited the Akesan market after the fire incident. We came here that day to assess the damage caused by the shocking fire outbreak and I commiserate with traders who lost goods in the fire.
“I remember that I told them that I was taking full responsibility for the failure of the Oyo State Fire Service to contain the fire. I also said that we would rebuild this market and compensate them for their losses.
“We were able to provide our widow’s mite as a government to support the people who lost their livelihoods here and had to start again. Kabiyesi said he had a shop here that was also burnt and I want to assure him that by the time the new shops are being allocated, he would be given priority.
“Some hoodlums burnt a fire truck and the office of Oyo State Fire Station. We have replaced the fire truck so that those who are within the neighbourhood of Akesan can go to bed and sleep with their two eyes closed. The fire truck is here in case of any eventuality and we will still upgrade the fire station.
“We are here today to officially flag off the rebuilding of Akesan Market. The fund for this project is already available. We did not borrow it.
“This market had been in existence for 400 years and no one in recent history could have anticipated that something like this would happen. But what that means is, we did not plan for a fire. So, one of the things we are going to do is to put some things in place to make sure that, should there be a fire in the future, it will not be as devastating as this last one.”
The governor said those who had shops in the market before the incident would be retained, adding that the reconstruction work had been divided into two.
Upon the completion of the first phase within six months, he said the shops would be allocated for trading activities would begin.
“After that, we will begin the second phase that will consist of 176 lock-up shops, 168 open shops, 3 warehouses for storage and preservation and we will install a cold room for preservation of fish and all that.
“There will also be modern toilets as well as a good road network. Other facilities like fire hydrants, water reticulation system, electrification, traffic and erosion control. All of that will be done in both the first and second phases. We are spending over 781 Million on the rebuilding,” he said.
The caretaker committee Chairman, Oyo East Local Government, Saheed Adeyemi, said Akesan Market remained important to the socio-economic development and survival of Oyo town and the state as a whole.
