Traders in the popular provision section of the Oja-Oba market in Akure, the Ondo State capital have described as unbearable continuous closure of the market by the Deji’s Palace.
A cross section of the traders who spoke with The Hope Metro expressed displeasure over the closure of the market which they claimed has been affecting their daily businesses.
A visit to the market yesterday thursday, some of the traders who clustered in groups were seen discussing and condemning the interruption in their businesses’ activities.
A provision seller who craved anonymity decried the situation, lamenting that they were being affected each time the market was shut because they borrowed money to finance the business, from a micro finance bank.
According to her, she said they always refund the short fund on weekly basis, irrespective of any situation.
Meanwhile, the Deji of Akure land, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, has assured shop owners in the provision session that they want to repair the road for easy access while those selling on the road would be relocated to a better place to enable them carry out their normal trading.
This assurance is coming following the closure of the popular provision section of Oja Oba in Akure Metropolis in the assurance of reopening it after three days.
It will be recalled that the monarch, has issued orders of markets closure twice for days in the past two months while this would be the third time.
Investigation revealed that the directive by the monarch that the provision section of the Oja-Oba market be shut down was to allow the construction of the road linking the palace and the Adedeji market to enable sellers and buyers have a better avenue for their businesses.
Contacted, the Press Secretary to the Deji Of Akure, Mr Micheal Adeyeye, told newsmen that there is need for reconstruction of the road within that section of the market.
He said, “We only moved the people selling by the road side as we are planning to move them to a better place which is under construction.
“Shop owners will be reopening in the next three days as we are trying to construct the road to enable people to bring their vehicles into the market to enhance adequate commerce to take place.”
Adeyeye further explained that the palace is concerned about the stressful method of buying things in that section of the market, saying, “We want it to be more comfortable for the traders and the sellers.
“We are looking for a way to make buying and selling more comfortable for the people. We have been on this for three weeks now trying to make them understand pending the time the place would be constructed.
”If you go that section, you will observe that vehicles hardly have access into the market.
“Meanwhile, we are still talking with the people as we find a permanent solution for them so as to make them happy.
Only this year, markets in Akure had been closed four more than four times due to festivals and death of a federal lawmaker, Hon Omolafe Adedayo Expensive.
