Support Market Development Through Prompt Rent Payment, Ogun Govt Urges Traders

The Ogun State government has called on traders in its markets to further key into the “Building Our Future Together” agenda of the present administration by promptly paying their rents so as to support the on-going efforts geared towards developing the markets.

Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Adebola Sofela, made the call during the tour of Olabisi Onabanjo International Market, Ita-Osu, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu International Market, Sagamu and the Ogere International Produce Market, Ogere.

Sofela who was with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Industry, Trade and Investment, Oluyemisi Dawodu and other top management staff of the ministry during the tour, stated that the Dapo Abiodun-led administration remained unflinching on improving condition at the markets to further spur the prosperity of market men and women as well as the citizenry, adding that government had deliberately made rents cheaper than what was obtainable elsewhere to make the payment more convenient.

“The government has its part to play, traders also have their part to play. When you pay your rent promptly it will be more convenient for government to continue to improve the condition of the market. Traders need to meet their obligations by paying rent as and when due, ” the commissioner stated.

Speaking on the efforts of government on access to capital for traders and other small business owners, Sofela said apart from the N1bn Ogun COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (OG-CARES) grant, the ‘Okowo Dapo’, Ogun State Agricultural and Multipurpose Credit Agency (OSAMCA) loan and other interventions, the Presidential Conditional Grant and Presidential Palliative Loan were currently available to eligible businesses stressing that one of the key conditions for small business owners to benefit from the intervention is the registration of their business on the Business Premises Permit (BPP) portal of the state government.

The commissioner expressed displeasure at the condition of the Ogere International Produce Market stating that government would work on addressing the challenges affecting the market.

In her address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Industry, Trade and Investment, Oluyemisi Dawodu called for proper disposal of waste around the markets to avoid blockade of drainages, assuring that government would not relent at addressing challenges facing traders.

In their separate remarks, leaders of the Olabisi Onabanjo International Market, Ita-Osu including the Iyaloja, Chief (Mrs.) Oloruntele Ogunba, Babaloja, Alhaji Surakat Sebiotimo and Iyalaje, Alhaja Kaosarat Aberuagba commended the impact of the commissioner on the improvement at the market since his assumption of office, soliciting for more renovation works at the market.

Also in her remarks at the Sagamu International Market, the Iyaloja, Mrs. Olasumbo Bamidele-Nelly represented by the Chairman, Electrical Committee, Abdul Hakeem Sanusi, commended the commissioner for the work done on the generator house and appealed for government intervention in power supply challenge.