Oyo Assembly approves Makinde’s bond request for infrastructure

…as govt rolls out safety guidelines on outdoor advertising

Oyo State House of Assembly on Tuesday approved Governor Seyi Makinde’s request for the issuance of a bond for the remodelling of the popular Agbowo shopping complex, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

This decision was made after the Governor’s letter of request was read on the floor of the House by Speaker. Adebo Ogundoyin. Although, the actual cost of the bond and tenor was not disclosed.

A the letter which read was by Speaker on the floors of the House, said, “As part of efforts by the present administration in Oyo State to enhance business activities and boost internally generated revenue, the State Government has decided to remodel Agbowo Shopping complex, Ibadan, a strategic commercial hub which had suffered significant deterioration over the years”.

At the plenary on Tuesday in which Asssembly members gave their nod, the Speaker said Agbowo shopping complex remains one of the heritage of the founding fathers of Oyo State, which must be protected jealousy.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government has rolled out guidelines for outdoor advert practitioners as well as spelling out the standard of practice for all in the industry as part of efforts to ensure safety for out-of-home advertising practice.

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Oludolapo Eso Ajanaku, Director General of the Oyo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OYSAA), said the guidelines were to ensure safety during and after billboards installation process.

He underscored the essence of safety and protection of workers, pedestrians, and advertisement structures and outlines critical safety measures for a secure and efficient installation process.

According to him, henceforth, it is unacceptable for any installer of advertisement structure to jettison the safety rules and guidelines processes during and after instalment of such structures for the safety benefits of pedestrians and other road users in the course of erection and maintenance of billboards and other form of signages in the state.

It is now imperative for such offenders of the process to face the hammer of the law through sanctions and to maintain order and sanity during installation of billboards across the state.”

He said OYSAA would henceforth monitor and embark on enforcement excercise in line with execution of the safety guidelines process adding that any practitioner found wanting would be subjected to fines and sanctions by the Agency.