Pursuant to his promise to decongest major roads in Benin City by relocating illegal street traders, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has inspected the proposed site for the planned ultramodern market in Benin City.
Accompanied by his Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu; Secretary to Edo State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie; Chief of Staff, Taiwo Akerele; the President of Akugbe Multi-Purpose Traders Association, Mr. Micheal Ezeani, and other government functionaries, the governor visited the proposed site for the building, which spans 1,000ft by 1,000ft, along Ikwunero Road.
It was revealed that the ultramodern market, which will have over 5,000 stores, would be sectionalised to maintain a sense of order, and the stalls would be arranged based on the types of goods sold in each section.
According to the masterplan, there would be sections for electronics, provisions, furniture and fashion, building materials, bookshops and stationary shops, mosque, church, a Police Station, Eateries. Even banks would have a place to operate, while a functional hospital would be erected to cater for the needs of buyers and sellers in the market.
President of Akugbe Multi-Purpose Traders Association, Mr. Micheal Ezeani appreciated the Governor Obaseki for assessing the proposed site of the ultramodern market, adding that they had started moulding blocks to show seriousness in building the market.
Meanwhile, he urged the governor to encourage financial institutions to support the building of the market.
He said: “I call on the state government to help facilitate the building of the market by assisting us to get financial institutions to support the building of the market”.
Mr. Ezeani revealed that the traders were ready to relocate from the Ring Road axis to the proposed location once the market was completed, noting that it was a viable for business since it was strategically easy for travellers, who plied that route, to access the market.
