The Oyo State government, under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde, has recently embarked on a controversial exercise that saw the demolition of over 400 shops at the popular Alegongo market, situated in the Akobo area of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
The demolition exercise, which reportedly commenced earlier in the week, has left many of the market’s traders devastated, as they were seen hurriedly packing up their goods and belongings in a desperate attempt to save what they could before the bulldozers arrived.
Eyewitness accounts from the scene painted a chaotic and emotional picture as the market structures were brought down, leaving trading materials, personal items, and valuable goods scattered across the ground. Traders scrambled to salvage their merchandise amidst clouds of dust and the sound of heavy machinery tearing down their shops.
According to reports, the demolition was executed with remarkable speed, leaving the affected traders with very little time to respond. Many business owners struggled to rescue their goods while others could only watch helplessly as their shops were reduced to rubble.
The incident at Alegongo market has since sparked widespread outrage and concern, especially among the traders and local residents who have expressed fears over the sudden disruption of their means of livelihood.
Several traders took to the streets holding placards with emotional messages directed at the state governor. Some of the inscriptions read: “Alegongo Market: Market traders are begging our dear governor to please have mercy on us”, “We the masses are begging you our father”, “We are begging, please come to our aid”, “Your Excellency, we are begging you, please don’t let them demolish our shops”, among other heartfelt appeals.
Despite these protests and emotional pleas, the demolition continued without interruption. Local government officials overseeing the exercise reportedly refused to halt the process, insisting that the decision had already been finalized and traders were duly informed ahead of time.
Sources revealed that the government had earlier issued an ultimatum to the affected shop owners and business operators, giving them a deadline to vacate the premises. That ultimatum, however, expired just a day before the demolition commenced, leaving many with inadequate time to relocate their businesses and properties.
Reacting to the incident, Bimpe, a resident and frequent patron of the market, voiced concern over the sudden demolition. “Honestly, we are worried about the fate of our businesses and livelihoods, as this sudden demolition has caught us off guard. Many of these traders have nowhere else to go,” she lamented.
Aside from the obvious economic impact, traders have also raised concerns over the lack of transparency and clear communication from the government regarding the reasons behind the demolition. Many believe there should have been proper dialogue and stakeholder engagement before such a drastic action was taken.
Ajibola Keru, one of the prominent leaders of the traders, expressed his frustration over what he described as the government’s disregard for the traders’ rights and welfare. “Although the government has the power to do whatever it deems fit, we, the traders who have had letters of allocation for these spaces for over 20 years, expected that the local government would have called us to a meeting before making the decision to demolish. This is unfair,” he said.
Meanwhile, a government official who chose to remain anonymous defended the demolition exercise. According to him, the move was a necessary step aimed at improving the overall infrastructure of the area and providing a better environment for residents and business owners in the future.
”The demolition is for the benefit of the residents and business owners, as the local government authority is only trying to modernize the area and eliminate old, unsafe structures,” the official stated. He further urged the affected traders to cooperate with the government as new plans for redevelopment and better trading conditions would soon be unveiled.