Image caption: A scene at the market on Monday – traders and customers scramble for maize from the farm about to be offloaded from a bus
Aarada Market Ogbomoso: Royal father, market leaders appeal to govt for upgrade of market
Jeremiah OYELEKE
HRM Oba Abolarinwa Ezekiel Olajide, Onisapa of Isapaland, has sent a passionate appeal to the government to upgrade the popular Aarada Market in Ogbomoso South local government area of Oyo state into a modern trading centre.
The traditional ruler whose family is the custodian of the market – dealing in fresh farm produce – said the outlet has become so important that people come near and far to trade, however lamenting the market lacks many basic amenities that could have made activities there more convenient.
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Oba Olajide therefore urged government to come to their aid in terms of provision of infrastrcuture including modern stalls or shops, water provision, toilets, healthcentres, police post and construction of intra-market roads.
The Oba remarked that government generates revenues in the market through collection of rates by Ogbomoso South local government, therefore appealing that government should invest in the market for greater revenue and convenience of the traders and customers.
“Aarada Market is a very popular market not only in Ogbomoso but throughout the southwest and beyond, people patronize it from far and near. The attraction of the market is that it is a daily market where mainly fresh produce are sold, it is a blessed market, of over 40 years of existence. However, the market doesn’t enjoy presence of government.
“The market lacks basic amenities such as water, street solar lighting, hospital, police post, toilet, and importantly roads within the market. I on behlaf of the patrons and traders in the market appeal to the governments both Ogbomoso South local government and Oyo state government to intervene in these areas. We want it upgraded to a modern market to boost activities in the market.
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“It is a fresh produce market within a city, which is a rare thing. Ogbomoso South generates fund in the market, any vehicle that brings a produce pays and the farmer also pays and so we solicit for their commitment towards improving the outlook of the market in the provision of those things. Road is very vital as well as other things mentioned. Government and political office holders provided boreholes in the past but are no more functioning.
“The market still has undeveloped large expanse of land, it can accomodate an abattoir, a police post, healthcentre and other facilities, we have space for these things. Also, we appeal to government to institute a loan scheme for the traders, I have done it on a personal basis, I provided up to N500, 000 as loan facilities for traders, we seek government’s approval for greater opportunities on this, it will boost the economy of Ogbomoso and Oyo state as a whole.”
The monarch who was installed in 2023 disclosed the Onisapa royal family closely monitors the the market to ensure peace and stability, emphasizing, “We constituted a monitoring committee, which executes minor projects like road repairs with laterite, settles minor disputes and so on, and we don’t give room for street urchins who have nothing to do to roam the market harrasing customers and traders.”
He added the family had made several representations to the government and to several other elected officers to assist in making the market a modern one but to no avail. He also informed that the dumpsite at the market is filled up overflown with refuse therefore begging government to help evacuate the site. He charged the market men and women on the “virtues of cooperation, unity, contentment and belief in their work. With this and virtue of hardwork they will prosper.”
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Corroborating the monarch, Iyaloja (market women leader) Aarada market, Adijatu Salami, stated, “We want government to introduce loan scheme because presently we take credit from loan firms – owo gbomu lelanta (with excessive interest). Aside, we appeal to them to give us healthcentres, water, boreholes given us in the past failed to eject water from the second day of commissioning and if you call them they won’t pick the call. We also need nursery/primary school where we can easily enrol our children, good waste disposal planning also. This is a big market that attracts a lot of people even white people do come here and they are always excited by the market mainly because it is on the main road.”
Prince Ojo Sunday Adesina, the chairman of market men and women at Aarada, who re-affirmed customers come from Ibadan, Ore in Ondo state, Oke-Ogun, Ife in Osun, and from the northern part of the country, harped that government needs to come to their aid in terms of good road especially and modern stalls just as he commended Onisapa for his contributions to the development of the market.
This is as Alhaji Sule Olasoyelo, Mogaji Onisapa, similarly commended Onisapa while also appealing for government’s intervention in the appalling situation of the market.
