OYO State governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has announced a cut in the rent paid by occupants of the Ibadan Scout Camp Neighbourhood Market (SCM) from N62, 000 to N40, 000 for lockedup shops, while rent for the open stall was slashed from N16, 000 to N8, 000.

The action, according to the Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, Adeniyi Adebisi, was premised on the promise of the state governor to reduce the cost of using government owned shops across the state by traders and market women.

Adebisi disclosed this on a visit to the Scout Camp Market (SCM) at Ibadan South-East local government area, on Friday, calling on traders still displaying their wares by the road side to desist from doing so, to avoid accidents caused by passing vehicles and enable free flow of traffic around the area.

The Commissioner promised that the basic amenities craved by the traders in the market would be provided soon, saying: “The rent on the locked-up shop is cut from N62, 000 to N40, 000 while the rent of the open stall is cut from N16, 000 to N8, 000 respectively, this is to relieve the shop owners of the cost and attract those using the road side to sell their goods to desist from doing so henceforth.”

The Commissioner stressed that the decision to reduce the rent was taken after the governor paid unannounced visit to the market, on Wednesday, to find a lasting solution to the abandonment of the SCM market and to reiterate the government’s zero tolerance for street trading.

The Chairman of the Market, Kehinde Tewogbade, said the traders were appreciative of the government’s gesture and promised to do all they could to support the policies and programmes of the administration.

Meanwhile, residents and commuters at Carpenter bus stop in Agbowo, Ibadan, Oyo State have commended Governor Makinde for the prompt repair of the collapsed bridge, which links Agbowo to Ojoo express way.

Makinde received the commendation while the Chairman, Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency (OYSROMA) Kamil Akinlabi Mudashiru, went on monitoring tour to the restored site on Friday.

Residents expressed happiness over the government’s prompt response stressing that it further establishes his love for the people.

A resident and clergy, Most Superior Evangelist Daniel Otakoyo, said “We are very happy and delighted to see the repair work being carried out by the state government.

We called on the government on the repair of the bridge and they responded promptly.

“This is what is called governance. We do not have any other stake in government than to see anything bad and call their attention to it, we had a government that never cared about this place till it got to this situation, we call on those at public offices to do what they are supposed to do for the benefit of the people, once again, we appreciate Seyi Makinde for heeding our call.”