Ogbomoso new market: Open shop before … or face revocation, shops owners told
Bayo ADELEKE
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Ogbomoso North local government has issued a Monday ultimatum to owners of shops at the Ogbomoso Ultramodern Market LAUTECH area, to open for business or have their ownership rights revoked.
This ultimatum was given Saturday by the chairman of the council area, Alhaji Akanji Kabir Ayoade, under whose jurisdiction the market falls.
Alhaji Ayoade who was interviewed at the market Saturday by ogbomosoinsightonline.com, while he was on an inspection visit at the abattoirs/butchers section, which took off last April 8, said, with tinge of agitation to his voice, that any shop owner in the general goods section, who failed to open the shop for operation by Monday (April 22) would lose the ownership right adding such would be reallocated Tuesday, next day.
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“That’s to show our determination to have the market come to live and get bustling,” the chairman fired.
The market built by former Governor Lam Adesina (1999 – 2003) and commissioned by Governor Rashidi Ladoja in 2007, has remained lifeless ever since causing it to be taken over by lizards and other reptiles and several warehouses and open spaces converted to cashew nut drying point.
Many of the shops were put under locks and keys, jeopardizing the purpose for which the market is built.
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Ogbomoso Insight learned many individuals obtained the shops at the time of allocation, some as many as eight shops but vamoosed thereafter, putting the shops under locks and keys.
This is about to change however going by this final proposition from the local government.
In the meantime, the market – a crucial element in unlocking Ogbomoso’s economic potential – has recently experienced significant benefits due to the unwavering commitment of Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration, Soun of Ogbomoso Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, and Ogbomoso North local government boss Alhaji Ayoade. As a result, the butcher section is now occupied by butchers from Atenda, replacing the former abattoirs.
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The tempo must not stop hence the ultimatum by Ayoade, “This is crucial, we will unlock shops that are not opened for business on Monday, by Tuesday, we will unlock them. We will reallocate to people who are ready to operate the shops.”
He further stated, “Whatever you wish to sell whether gold or silver you must open it by Monday. And if it is coal you must open for business.. Whoever owns those shops if by Monday they are not opened we will unlock them and give to those who are ready to operate them immediately. Enough of this economic sabotage. We want the whole market come up with bustling activities, economic saboteurs should not hold us to ransom any longer.”
The strong directive/order issued by the Council Chairman to the allotees is imperative if the market is to be fully operational. By nature, people abhor change. As a result, the traders will not bother to go to the new market unless they are force or threatened.
I have not gone to the market to know its
size, layouts, design or structure. However, it is highly necessary to arrange the users (traders) in the market, section by section, according to the nature of their business or wares traded in, most especially those in general goods category, and if this has not been the case. This is the arrangement of modern market, worldwide.