Ogun to build shopping malls in senatorial districts
The Ogun State Government has said it will build shopping malls in the West and East senatorial districts to replicate the one that has been constructed in the Central senatorial district of the state.
The state government, through a statement signed by the Press Officer, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ayokunle Ewuoso, said the projects would boost commerce and encourage self-employment in the state, adding that it had also successfully graded and compacted with culverts 1,235.20 kilometres of rural roads across the 20 Local Government Areas of the state.
“Government has already completed the construction of the shopping mall located in Sapon Market, Abeokuta South Local Government Area, while those in Isale Igbehin, Itoku and Omida markets, all located within Ogun Central Senatorial District, have reached advanced stages,” the statement read in part.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Kayode Ademolake, was quoted as saying that the government’s decision to start the construction of shopping malls in Abeokuta was borne out of the fact that some markets were demolished to give right of way for the expansion of roads, but that none was demolished in the Ogun East and West senatorial districts.
He said “These big shopping malls that we have in Abeokuta will be replicated in the two remaining senatorial districts. Our governor is a man that believes in equality and fairness. Government decided to have these pioneer shopping malls in the state capital because many markets were demolished to give the right of way for the construction of the roads, while no markets was demolish in the other two senatorial districts.
“That notwithstanding, the government will replicate the shopping malls in the remaining districts.
“The Sapon shopping mall has been completed; Omida is also so gigantic. The expenditure there is so high and I hope it will be completed very soon since the governor has been re-elected. I’m sure these will be his priorities. Itoku too is under construction; the work there has gone a long way, it is already on the third floor; very soon, the malls will all be completed.”
Ademolake said that the allocation of shops in the already completed shopping mall located in Sapon Market was being delayed because the government wanted to ensure that there was fairness in the process.
On rural roads, Ademolake was quoted to have said that in spite of the feat recorded by government regarding infrastructural development during Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s first term in office, the government was poised to continue so as to make life better for the people.
PUNCH.
