Fayose Demolishes Oja-Oba Market in Ado-Ekiti …..To Replace It With World Class Market
Adetokunbo Fakeye
Ekiti State Government early Saturday demolished the popular Oja-Oba market in Ado-Ekiti with promise to build an ultra-modern market in its place within the next 24 months.
The market which was pulled down at the early hours of Saturday morning, was set ablaze recently, following a violent clash between drivers and Hausa people in the state.
According to the State Commissioner for Works, Mr Kayode Osho, who supervised the demolition, the state government would give preference to former shop owners when the project completed.
NigerianEcho learnt, it Governor Ayodele Fayose’s determination to demolishe the market. “It was determination of Mr Governor to give Ado-Ekiti a world class market that made the demolition possible. Many “stakeholders” did not want the market demolished. There were even diabolical threat against government and thus we carry out the demolition exercise early morning”, said an aide to Fayose who did not want his name in print.
Commissioner told reporters on inquiry that the demolition and excavation of the market premises would last for two weeks after which construction of a modern shopping mall with all the necessary facilities, would begin.
Osho revealed that compensation for the affected people was done in collaboration with market owners and in line with standards in the industry.
According to him, about N120 million was expended on compensation for affected traders, while the project itself will be gulp about N2billion.