Traders in popular Araromi Automobile Spare Parts market, Agodi Gate, Ibadan have continued to express their displeasure over the recent action of Oyo State Government to partition and erection of perimeter fencing for thousands of shops.
The automobile spare parts traders in the market describe development in the market as a way of sending them out of where they are making their legitimate daily living.
Infrastructural development is inevitable in every society to achieve modern economy that depends on different sectors, provision of alternatives for the affected ones whose shops, trading space were swept away during expansion and implementation of such policy deserves attention.
This is because, as we plan to solve problems, create a robust economy for a sector, we must be careful of not creating unemployment, making life hard for people in another critical sector.
For the ongoing project in Araromi Automobile Spare Parts market, the pain, agony and unexplainable what future will be for traders is visible as partition, perimeter fencing of the market along roads connecting each market section.
FreshPage correspondent was in the market for on-site assessment of the work done so far by Oyo State Government and spoke with few traders to get their reactions.
One of the traders who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said they were shocked few weeks ago when construction company contracted by Oyo State Government stormed the market.
“Initially, we thought they wanted to do road project alone across the sections of the market, but what we are seeing now is different entirely. After the drainage is constructed, road was expanded, many shop owners lost their space. That was not enough, we were shocked with ongoing perimeter fencing project in the market. We were told by the those mounting fence that barbwire will be fixed on the fence after completion.
Another trader, Mr. Oludaisi Olabisi said; “our major concern is how our prospective buyers coming to market will see what we are selling now that government is building perimeter fencing. Apart from that some of my colleagues whose shops were affected by road expansion have moved some of their goods to their respective homes.
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“We are feeling the pain with current economic realities, our sales have dropped. We appeal to Oyo government under the leadership of Engr Seyi Makinde as listening leader to please have mercy on OVER 10,000 TRADERS.
“What I noticed is that perimeter fencing is likely to extend beyond Local Government land, this is because the local government land ends after the bridge before approaching Jagun Road, along Gate-Gbagi Road the construction workers said they are working based on directives.
Another trader who didn’t want his name to be mentioned, recalls how they spent millions of naira to reconstruct affected shops during the 2022 inferno experienced in the market. He acknowledged that Governor Makinde also gave them financial assistance as well. He lamented life has not been easy for him to cope since what he termed victimization of traders started there.
When FreshPage correspondent asked another trader; Mr. Akeem Olaoye what they want from government to ease their pain and continue with their automobile businesses, he said; ” the only thing we can do is to appeal to Oyo State Government to provide us with another location if taking over Araromi Spare Parts market for another project becomes inevitable. Provision of another place should follow. With that, we will be rest assured that we have where to go if government tactically send us out of this place through perimeter fencing.
“We appeal to Oyo State Governor, Engr Makinde to make sure infrastructure facility are available wherever they want to relocate us to. But, it will be unfair to send us out of this place without providing alternative on the part of government”.
