Seven months after it was razed, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Wednesday flagged off the reconstruction of an ultra-modern Akesan market complex, Oyo Town.

The over 400 years old ancient market was engulfed in a fire accident which led to the loss of goods and valuables to the tune of hundreds of millions on January 5.

The reconstruction of the market which is put at a total cost of N781.7million will have 520 lock-up shops, 168 open stalls, administrative block, warehouses, cold room storage facilities, clinic, police post, toilets and portable water among others.

Speaking at the ceremony which held on the market ground, Governor Makinde said the fund to complete the project is readily available and needs not be sourced from borrowings.

He assured that, when completed, the new structure will never be grounded by any fire incident again, and if fire breaks out at all, it will never be as devastating as the last one.

According to Makinde, many safety fire precautions and safety measures have been factored into the new structure, adding that new firefighting trucks have been procured to serve the market and the immediate community.

Makinde said:

“On January 8, 2020, when we visited Oja Akesan, Oyo Town to assess the damage caused by the shocking fire outbreak, I commiserated 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 fire service to contain the fire. And that we would rebuild this market and compensate them for their loss.

“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. We also replaced the fire truck at the Akesan Fire station. So, we can go to bed and sleep with our two eyes closed knowing that should there be a fire here or anywhere else around here, the fire service will have no excuse to prevent them from doing their job.

“And so, we are here today to fulfill the second part of that promise, to officially flag off the rebuilding of Ojoba. Our people say, “Ile oba t’o jo, ewa lo busi.” In a literal way, Ojoba was razed but it will be raised to be of greater glory than it was before. That is why we have taken time to redesign the market.

“You must already know that this market had been in existence for 400 years and no one in recent history could have anticipated that something like this would happen. What that means is that no one even planned for a fire. So, one of the things we are doing now is to put 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 was.

“The reconstruction will cost N781, 761, 820. 15k and the stores will be allocated to the original owners. The first phase of reconstruction will take six months and the second phase will take two months. The contractor, who is from Oyo Town, has assured us that in less than one year the market will be complete and ready and we pray that we never experienced anything like the January 5th fire ever again.”

In his royal remarks, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi thanked the Governor for the support to the people who lost their goods and valuables to the fire incident.

While urging the contractor handling the project to ensure that the quality of materials quoted in rebuilding the market is deployed for use, the first-class monarch urged the market and shop owners to ensure they are safety conscious in their trading activities when reallocated.

The Caretaker Chairman, Oyo East local government, Prince Arowasaye Adeyemi (Arosad) said fire resistant materials that will be used in its construction will have a fire pump and water hoses connected in all the building s with a dedicated underground fire hydrant tank.

He added that the reconstruction will take a high priority on the safety and protection of properties, an indication of the uttermost importance the Governor has placed on the project.

Oyo Deputy Governor, Mr Rauf Olaniyan, the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Olubanwo Adeosun, Chief of Staff to Governor Makinde, Chief Bisi Ilaka, other top government functionaries, traders, traditional rulers, community leaders among others attended the event.

 

The Nation