…as Chairman Egunjobi touts eight years of development

Agege breaks ground on MKO Abiola Market, Chairman Egunjobi Touts Eight Years of Development

The Agege Local Government today officially broke ground on the MKO Abiola Market, a state-of-the-art public-private partnership project, as Executive Chairman Alhaji Hon. Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi (JP) reflected on eight years of significant infrastructure and human capital development in the area.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Chairman Egunjobi highlighted the market’s significance, not only for stimulating local commerce but also for immortalizing the legacy of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, a towering figure of democracy and economic empowerment.

“This project is not just bricks and mortar; it is a platform for opportunities,” Egunjobi stated, emphasizing the modern stalls and facilities that will benefit hundreds of traders and artisans, and the improved business ecosystem for thousands of shoppers. He projected that the market would create employment opportunities, enhance the ease of doing business in Agege, and beautify the landscape. The project is a collaboration between the council and Urban Shelter and Truworth Ventures.

With his tenure set to conclude on July 28, 2025, Chairman Egunjobi used the occasion to recount his administration’s achievements. He noted that his government embarked on a total of 60 projects, with many already completed and others nearing completion.

Among the key achievements listed were the construction and rehabilitation of numerous roads and drainages, bringing “new looks” to streets like Onibeju, Alowonle, and Adegbola, many now featuring streetlights.

In the education sector, Egunjobi’s administration constructed new blocks of classrooms at Dopemu and Oduduwa Primary Schools, renovated classrooms at State Primary School, Iloro, and built an e-library. He proudly announced that Agege is the “first and only local government in Nigeria to build a Computer-Based Test centre.”

Healthcare also saw significant investment, with the construction and equipping of Ajegunle and Awori Primary Health Centres, and the procurement of three ambulances for medical emergencies. The Chairman also noted the transformation of Moshalasi Alhaja Market from a “regular crime scene” and the construction of public toilets in markets, reflecting a commitment to hygiene.

Beyond infrastructure, Chairman Egunjobi touched on human capital development and welfare initiatives. He mentioned increasing salaries for traditional leaders, with plans to provide cars to the Olu of Agege and Ologba of Ogba before his departure. The council also purchased four shuttle buses for public primary school pupils and consistently provided uniforms, bags, and writing materials.

Financial support programs have seen over 8,000 petty traders and artisans receive N100,000 each monthly, while 250 rehabilitated youths from the EndSARS Protest receive N10,000 monthly. Additionally, 50 members of the Agege Crime Fighters security outfit receive N50,000 each, and over 300 non-pensionable staff have been engaged with a monthly salary of N30,000.

Egunjobi also revealed plans for a luxury estate at the council’s Maternity annex office, a public-private partnership project whose papers have been signed and sealed for the incoming administration to deliver.

In his concluding remarks, the Chairman thanked the people of Agege for twice electing him and urged them to vote wisely in the upcoming local government election on Saturday, specifically endorsing the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship candidate, Alhaji Tunde Azeez (Disco), his running mate Abdul Ganiyu Vinod Obasa, and all APC councillorship candidates.

The groundbreaking ceremony marked a symbolic end to a productive eight-year tenure, with the MKO Abiola Market poised to become a significant landmark in Agege’s economic landscape.