Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State, inspecting road rehabilitation and other projects in some parts of Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, said that his administration will build more markets in strategic locations across the state to stop street trading.
Oyebanji said that the state government would also provide more facilities for commercial activities.
The governor, inspecting the Agric-Olope road under rehabilitation and a channelisation project, addressed leaders of market women at the new Shasha market, saying that his administration is planning to build more markets to accommodate the teeming number of traders involved in street trading, with attendant discomfort to other road users.
Oyabanji declared: “I am impressed with the spate of work on this market. I hope you will make use of the facilities, as our government is making plans to build more markets for you so that you will stop street trading.
“I want an assurance from you that you will make use of the new markets when built, because we do not want a situation where you will abandon the market and be hawking your goods on the roadside.
“This government is committed to your safety, welfare and growth of your businesses. When we provide facilities, you must make sure they are put into proper use.”
Spokesperson for the market women, Mrs Comfort Olabiran, thanked the governor for the new market, assuring that the facility would be properly made use of by the traders.
The governor expressed satisfaction with the level and quality of work done by the contractors on the roads being rehabilitated across the state.
He said that the road rehabilitation would be extended to all the 16 local government areas of the state.
The governor said that he had always been embarking on projects inspection to ensure conformity with standard, assuring that his administration would continue to serve the interests of the people of the state, irrespective of their political leanings.
He reiterated that one of his administration’s programmes, aimed at empowering artisans, market women and small scale businesses, would soon be unveiled to ensure prosperity of the people of the state.
Oyebanji appealed to residents of the state to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, in the February 25 presidential election. He said that they will enjoy more dividends of democracy if Tinubu becomes the president of Nigeria.