Oyo Govt Debunks Claims On Converting Bola Ige Market Carpark To Shop…says upgrade is transparent, collaborative

  The Oyo State Government has debunked allegations that it has replaced the car park at Bola Ige international business complex, popularly known as Gbagi Market with new shops and extorted money from unsuspecting traders, overnight. This misleading report was published by a certain online blog and subsequently circulated on social media. The Commissioner for Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry, Hon Adeniyi Adebisi, said the claim is entirely false, mischievous, and an intentional misrepresentation of an ongoing, well-planned redevelopment project. He said the Gbagi market redevelopment effort is being spearheaded in phases by the Oyo State Government, under the supervision of the Ministry of Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry, in close partnership with the market leadership and representatives of zonal traders’ associations. Mr. Adebisi said the portion of land being referred to was not an official car park but an underutilized area, prone to illegal vending and security risks. The Commissioner said following broad consultation with stakeholders, it was approved for formal stall development to promote orderliness and improve access and safety within the market environment. “Furthermore, No part of the main designated car park has been taken over or eliminated. The new shops are not situated in the core vehicle parking zone, he said. “Allocations were not made secretly or overnight, but through a transparent and documented process, coordinated by the leadership of the traders and relevant government departments. “Standardized shop allocation fees were communicated in advance to interested traders with options to opt in or out—there is no evidence of “coerced” payments as wrongly alleged. He reiterated that no trader will be unjustly displaced, and the project will be executed in line with the master plan agreed upon with all key market stakeholders. Adebisi urged members of the public, particularly media outlets, to verify facts before spreading reports capable of inciting public unrest or misleading residents. He also encouraged Market leaders and traders to channel concerns or inquiries to the Market Support Desk at the Ministry or reach out directly to the designated liaison officers. According to him, “the general public, particularly our esteemed market stakeholders, are urged to disregard this fabrication, which is clearly being sponsored by opposition elements and detractors determined to politicize every laudable initiative of the present administration.” Furthermore, the Chairman of the Zonal caretaker Leaders’ Bola Ige international business complex, Gbagi Ibadan, Alhaji Adetonan Morufu who featured on a radio station programme in Ibadan on Wednesday, firmly debunked the allegations and clarified the facts behind the redevelopment effort.

Makinde Flags off Upgrade Of Ibadan Airport, Wednesday

  Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde will, on Wednesday, flag off the project for the upgrade of the Ibadan Airport, Alakia to an international airport. The flag-off comes a few weeks after the governor inaugurated an 11-man committee set up to oversee the delivery of the project. The committee is headed by a former Commissioner for Finance, Mr Bimbo Adekanmbi. Recall that the Federal Government granted the Oyo State Government the approval to go ahead with the upgrade of the facility following several efforts and projects instituted by the state towards attaining Governor Makinde’s vision to turn around the facility for the state’s economic benefits. Speaking during the inauguration of the committee on July 30, Governor Makinde had noted that the upgrade of the airport would support his administration’s drive to expand the economy of the state through agribusiness. He noted: “The decision to convert our existing local airport into an international airport was not a hasty one; we are not engaged in a let-me-do-this-because-other-governors-are-doing-it-competition. “This is a well-thought-out decision based on science, logic and data. This vision is already four years old and we laid the groundwork in our first tenure. We have completed the 500,000-litre aviation fuel storage and dispensing facility, which has been concessioned to Bovas Group. “We have also upgraded part of the facilities which increased the number of airlines including Ibadan in their flight schedules.”