Project Coordinator, Ayegbaju International Market, Osogbo, Osun State, Mr. Iyunade Olatunbosun, has dispelled insinuation that shops at the N2.3bn market under construction have been sold out to Osun State government officials.
Addressing a news conference at the administrative block of the market, on Thursday, Olatunbosun said the market still had 105 exclusive shops, 300 mini stores and over 100 lock-up shops for sale.
He said the first phase of the market would be completed in September while the second phase would be completed next year.
According to Olatunbosun, who is also the Assistant General Manager to Edward Property Konsult, the consultant handling the project, no member of the public will be allowed to buy more than one of the market shops.
He said, "The insinuation making the rounds that the shops are being bought by Osun government officials is false. The state government is on the vanguard of taking traders off the streets; the same government cannot encourage selling of shops to its officials.
"In fact, there are more than enough shops to go round for every willing buyer. The question of non-availability does not arise. The market would have a hotel, fire station, filling stations, police station, church, mosque, and a mall."
Spokesperson for the estate surveyors and valuers of the project, Ibukun Efuntayo and Company, Mr. Isaiah Ojewale, said the market had warehouses, open shops, 30 cold rooms and meat shops.
Osun Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Mr. Ajibola Basiru, in an interview with our correspondent, on Thursday, said the market would be the largest and most equipped in the country.
Basiru said, "What we are looking at here is an enormous market that would cater for all categories of traders. The market will be the hub of commerce in this region."
The Punch