By Israel Afolabi
The State of Osun House of Assembly has directed the State Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Industries and Empowerment to relocate traders at the Oroki Market, popularly referred to as Alekuwodo Market to the new space provided for them at Awosuru Area of the state capital by Friday, December 15 (today).
Chairman, House Committee on Commerce, Cooperatives, Industries and Empowerment, Hon. Babatunde Olatunji gave the directive on Thursday at an interactive meeting with concerned stakeholders at the State House of Assembly Complex Osogbo, State of Osun.
He said the state government has provided all necessary facilities for the traders at the new market site, considering the fact that the present location is very dangerous to their lives and property.
The Commissioner in the Ministry, Mr. Ismaila Alagbada had told the lawmakers that the government had served the traders with quit notice of 21 days since July, which has since expired but the traders refused to comply.
He added that the issue of relocation has started since 2013, adding that, government has been very patient enough with the traders’ reluctance to relocate.
However, in their separate contributions, the representatives of the traders, Mr. Ojolowo and Mrs. Erinjogunola Bola agreed that the government had earlier served them with notice and they had appealed that the relocation order be reversed on several occasions.
The duo further appealed to Government at the meeting to extend the order till after yuletide season.
“We want government to have little patience till next year because the new market is not yet filled up as it has scanty occupiers”, they pleaded.
However, Hon. Olatunji made it known that the purpose of the interactive meeting was to see to the welfare of the traders in the state and also instructed that the affected traders should be given consideration in the empowerment programmes of the State Government.
According to him, “We have all resolved that from December 15, 2017, Awosuru market will come alive with commercial activities. “We also agreed that those on the road side will relocate to the new market at Awosuru”, he added.
Olatunji appreciated market men and women at Akindeko for their support to the present government and lauded the State Government for making trading convenience for traders and implored the latter to move to the new market site for their safety.
Meanwhile, other committee members urged the representatives of the traders to discuss the details of the meeting with their co-traders at Akindeko market.
The Assembly further directed the Ministry of Commerce, cooperatives, Industries and Empowerment to ensure quick access of the traders at Oroki market, Alekuwodo in Osogbo to Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme (GEEP) facilities so as to hasten their relocation and smooth commencement of marketing activities at the new market site.
They urged the traders to embrace the new development of the government of Osun and adhere to its directives in their best interest.
Alagbada assure the traders at Akindeko Market scheduled to move to Awosuru market site of adequate facilities to make trading convenient for them and assured them of safety of their lives and property.
According to him, “We now have enough space at the new market to accommodate every trader and this government made things convenient for market users in Osun”.
“We are now appealing to other street traders to move down to the new market at Awosuru because there would not be a market at Akindeko again from December 15, 2017”.
In her contribution, the Executive Secretary, Osogbo West Local Council Development Authority (LCDA), Alhaja Temilade Olokungboye stated the council’s readiness to cooperate with traders and stakeholders to make the new market thrive.
She commended the State House of Assembly for intervening.
She said, “With our meeting today in the House of Assembly, we are satisfied because we believe in moving the market forward”.
She added that the council has issued warning to property owners on the other side of Ola-Egbon Chemist not to harbor any of the traders in their own interest.
