The Contractor handling the ongoing reconstruction work at the Oba Market in Benin City Engr. Shahid Mahmud has promised to complete and hand over the project to Edo State Government (EDSG) in the next two weeks.
The contractor spoke to journalist at the Oba Market after Edo State Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo paid an unscheduled visits to the market to inspect the level and quality of work done.
Engr. Mahmud said the project is almost completed as construction work has reached 97 percent. “The stores upstairs are almost 100 percent completed as we have minor maintenance to do downstairs.
“We are doing the ground flooring and tiling but we have deployed more man power to make sure we complete this job in the next two weeks”.
He noted that the historic Oba market razed by fire in 2020 and 2025 in Benin City has been remodeled into a modern commercial complex to a mall-like structure, featuring around 450 open shops on the ground floor with solar powered lighting, ceiling fans and other modern facilities, he concluded.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo and his entourage were taken on a guided tour of the market by the project site manager as he inspected various sessions of the reconstructed market and spoke to journalists on his impression of the work done so far.
Gov. Okpebholo expressed satisfaction on the progress of work done at the Oba market and recalled the promise made while campaigning to build the market.
He noted that he had promised the traders that if elected as governor of Edo State, he will rebuild and ensure traders do their businesses in a more conducive and secured environment.
“You can see what is happening here, we came here last time to have a look of the progress of work. You remember when we were campaigning and we promised to rebuild this market and that is our promise. Today we have fulfilled our promises to the traders. This is the demonstration of what we all see here today”.
Okpebholo also attributed the success of the ongoing project and others to the fatherly care and support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to Okpebholo “President Tinubu is always quick to ask about the progress of work at the market and how I am handling the challenges faced by traders. I have always told him the progress we are making and he releases funds for us and that is why you see what we are seeing here today.
Recall, a major fire incident gutted the popular Oba Market in Benin City during the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki in 2020 and 2025.
