By Abdul-Kadir Abdullah
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has expressed satisfaction with the level of work completed at the reconstructed Oba Market in Benin City, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to fulfilling campaign promises to traders.
The governor gave the assurance during an unscheduled inspection visit to the market, where he was conducted round the facility by the project site manager.
Speaking to journalists after touring various sections of the complex, Okpebholo said the project stands as a clear demonstration of his government’s resolve to provide a more conducive and secure business environment for traders.
He said, "You can see what is happening here. We came here previously to assess the progress, and today, what we are witnessing reflects the promise we made during the campaign. We assured the traders that we would rebuild this market, and today, that promise has been fulfilled,”
Okpebholo also attributed the steady progress of the project to the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the President has shown consistent concern about the welfare of traders and the pace of work at the site.
The governor added, "President Tinubu is always keen to know the progress we are making and how we are addressing the challenges faced by traders. His support, particularly in the release of funds, has been instrumental to what we are seeing here today,”
Earlier, the contractor handling the reconstruction, Engr. Shahid Mahmud, disclosed that the project is nearing completion and would be handed over to the Edo State Government within the next two weeks.
According to him, the project has reached about 97 percent completion, with most of the upper-level shops already finished, while final touches are ongoing on the ground floor.
Mahmud said, "We are currently working on the flooring and tiling downstairs, and we have increased manpower to ensure timely completion. The upstairs section is almost fully completed, with only minor finishing left,”
He further explained that the rebuilt market has been transformed into a modern commercial complex with a mall-like structure, featuring about 450 open shops on the ground floor, alongside solar-powered lighting, ceiling fans, and other modern facilities aimed at improving trading conditions.
The Oba Market, a major commercial hub in Benin City, was previously gutted by fire incidents in 2020 and 2025, leaving traders in distress and disrupting economic activities in the area.
The reconstruction of the Market is widely seen as a significant step towards restoring commercial activities and boosting the local economy in Benin City.
