The Oyo State Government has flagged-off the ‘Oja-Agbe’ Farmers’ Association, in its bid to provide a conducive platform for the economic turnaround for traders and agricultural investors in the State.
The Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Cooperatives, Hon. Adeniyi Adebisi, stated this, on Thursday, while flagging off the Oja-Agbe Market at the Scout Camp Neighborhood Business Complex, Challenge, Ibadan.
Adebisi noted that the Governor Seyi Makinde-led government would leave no stone unturned in making life more comfortable for farmers, economically and socially, towards marketing their farm produce. This necessitated the government to release a significant number of open stalls in the Scout Camp Neighborhood Business Complex, at no cost, to the Oja-Agbe Farmers’ Association in the State for the next one year.
He said: “The present administration will leave no stone unturned to make sure that food security is made a priority and our people who consume will get the products fresh and affordable, while farmers and traders in farm produce would maximize the concept of ‘Oja-Agbe’ to improve their socio-economic power.”
Revived infrastructural development
Adebisi revealed that repairs were made in the complex, at the instance of the Governor, in such areas as reconnection of electricity, purchase of standby generator, repair of blown off roofs and the two existing boreholes in the market and the approval of the creation of an Amotekun Office, for security of lives and properties, in the bid to make the environment conducive for commercial activities.
The Commissioner enjoined the leadership of the Oja-Agbe Farmers’ Association in the State to reciprocate the good gesture by selling their produce at cheaper rates, in comparison to retailers, and support the programmes of the State Government to take the people of the State from poverty to prosperity.
Adebisi called on traders selling by the road side along the Challenge, Molete and Mobil axis to return to the Scout Camp Neighborhood Business Complex where adequate infrastructural facilities have been provided, by the government, for their use.
He said: “With all these facilities in place, we can see that traders that have been displaying and selling their wares by the roadside have no reason to do so anymore, we urge them to quickly make use of this opportunity of getting spaces here and trade with human dignity.”
Open shops for free
In his remarks, the Chairman, Oja Agbe Farmer’s Association of Oyo State, Mr Muraina Olaleye, appreciated Governor Seyi Makinde for giving out 50 open shops to the farmers for free use, over a period of one year.
Olaleye appealed to his members to use the opportunity given to them for their advantage and take agriculture back to its position as it was in the 1960s when agriculture contributed largely to Nigeria’s National Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Emmanuel Ukoh
