Traders at the Araromi Spare Parts Market, located at Agodi-Gate in Ibadan, Oyo State, have appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to halt the ongoing erection of a fence along the road within the market, citing negative impacts on business and commercial activities.
A visit to the market by The PUNCH on Sunday revealed that a long stretch of fencing is currently being erected beside the drainage area of an ongoing road construction project. The fence runs from the market all the way to the Agodi-Gate Prison.
One of the traders, Kunle Adeoye, expressed frustration over the development, noting that the construction had made it difficult for vehicles to access the market, which is crucial for offloading goods. He said, “We don’t want the fence. We can hardly feed ourselves and our families. The ongoing fencing has drastically reduced our trading activities.”
Another trader, who identified himself as Obadiah, added that the lack of access roads due to the fence was severely affecting business. “What we sell is iron, and there is no access for customers to bring in vehicles to load and move goods out of the market,” he said.
The traders explained that over 100,000 people are being directly affected by the construction, and they have urged the state government to reconsider the decision. “We want the government to reconsider its stance on the fence, as it is hurting our commercial activities. If they want us to leave the market, they should provide a new location with the necessary infrastructure like shops, toilets, and modern facilities,” another trader stated.
A leader in the market, who preferred to remain anonymous, recalled that during a visit after a fire outbreak in December 2022, Governor Makinde had promised to rebuild the market. However, the traders rejected the proposal, as it was feared that many would be unable to afford the new rent in the reconstructed market. The governor had also offered N50 million in assistance to the victims of the fire and provided land behind the market for their use.
The market leader also expressed frustration, saying, “During the campaign for the governor’s second term, we were assured that we wouldn’t be relocated, but what we are seeing now is beyond our comprehension. It’s really difficult to survive these days.”
When contacted, the Oyo State Commissioner for Land, Housing, and Urban Development, Williams Akin-Funmilayo, clarified that most markets in the state are managed by local governments. He explained that Araromi Market is under the jurisdiction of the Ibadan North East Local Government Area, not the state government.
“The state government is not in charge of most markets in the state. Governor Makinde is not aware of this issue. The local government manages that market, and the chairman was there and spoke to the traders,” Akin-Funmilayo said, adding that local governments are responsible for market management.
At the time of publication, attempts to reach the Chairman of Ibadan North East Local Government, Ibrahim Akintayo, for further comment were unsuccessful.
