A member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Adebayo Babajide, representing Ibadan North state constituency II, has called on the State government to consider the renovation of the dilapidating state owned Agbowo shopping complex, as an opportunity to increase the internal generated revenue of the state.
Lamenting the worrisome state of the State property on Thursday during the Oyo State Assembly plenary, Babajide noted that government suffers huge loss of revenue due to lack of patronage of the facilities of the complex by prospective tenants and investors.
According to him, the lively Agbowo complex which housed the popular ‘Cinema De Babasala’, a large car park, a high rise building with so many office spaces and about three hundred shops is now a reliable abode for touts and hooligans, posing fearful security threats to the residents of the area.
“I grew up in Agbowo, and it saddens my heart to see the erstwhile bubbling, attractive and revenue generating complex deteriorating and becoming home for hoodlums.
“Truthfully, apart from being a good and potent source of internally generated revenue for Oyo State, the complex if renovated, upgrades and put into functional use will also generate employment opportunities for the people of Oyo State whose interest we are all here to defend and protect.
“That is why I and my co-lawmakers are calling on the executive led by our amiable Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde to look into renovation, upgrading and make the complex facilities functional in order to restore the lost glory of popular Ibadan business hub”, Hon. Babajide submitted.
Speaking on the resolution after the deliberation of the lawmakers, the Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin noted that the location of the complex is lucrative, being located in a university environment, where it can serve vast community of people.
Ogundoyin said that the lawmakers are requesting from the executive through the Oyo State housing corporation to forward to the house of assembly a comprehensive report of the status of facilities and activities within Agbowo shopping complex, from 2011 till date.
“It obvious the complex is becoming an eyesore and not even safe for the residents of the area, that’s why we are calling on the executive to consider partnering with consultants and other stakeholders with a view to renovating and upgrading facilities in the complex thereby making it functional.
“This is the time to explore all means possible to increase the State Internal Generated Revenue and also provide job opportunities for our people in Oyo State”.
