Details have emerged about the features of the N781million ultra modern Akesan Market complex flagged-off by Governor Seyi Makinde on Wednesday.
OYOINSIGHT.COM recalls that Akesan Market was gutted by fire in January and the governor had, on January 8, visited the burnt 400-year-old market, promising to rebuild it into a modern trading facility.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted him as saying that the first phase of the project, which is to be completed in six months, will have 352 lock-up shops, one police post, a modern toilet with 12 units for males and females, one administrative block, and a road network.
The governor also added that the second phase will consist of 176 lock-up shops, 168 open shops, three warehouses for storage and preservation, as well as modern toilets and road network.
The statement indicated that the new Akesan Market, Oyo, has been awarded to Messrs MORTAYUS NIGERIA LIMITED, an indigenous company, at the cost of N781, 716, 820.15.
Speaking on the features of the new market complex, Makinde said, “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 your 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. We are revealing this amount because we want everybody to take care of the project. Those who think this government is embezzling the state’s funds should wait till the project is completed and come back to examine if the money spent on it, is worth it or not.
“The contractor we awarded this project to, MORTAYUS NIGERIA LIMITED, hails from Oyo Town, and has assured us that in less than one year, the market will be completed and ready. But we pray that we will never experience anything like that of the January 5 fire ever again.”
