Traders at the Araromi spare parts market, Agodi Gate in Ibadan have complained that the erection of perimeter fences at the front of their shops is affecting their businesses negatively.
The traders made this assertion during a visit to the market by Newspot at the weekend.
Our correspondent reports that Oyo State government is currently reconstructing roads within the market.
Newspot gathered that the contractor handling the project has begun the erection of perimeter fences at the front of shops that are along the roads in the market.
The traders, have, however, raised an alarm that the fences are blocking most of their shops.
The traders who lamented that the construction is currently affecting their sales negatively, appealed to the state government to prevail on the contractor to discontinue the erection of fence in the market.
A trader who identified himself as Solawumi Bankole, lamented low sales because of the fences blocking his shop.
“We just discovered that the contractor came in one day and began to erect perimeter fences. This is blocking our shops. This is affecting our sales. Customers are now afraid to come here because most of our shops have been blocked by the perimeter fences. As you can see that this is a market, erection of fences on the road is a way to block the shops and this is affecting our market”.
Another trader in the market, Ms Bimbo Temi appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to prevail on the contractor to dismantle the fences.
She appealed to the governor to prevail on the contractor to discontinue the ongoing erection of fences in the market.
“We are using this medium to beg the governor to do something. This is a market. How can you put fences in the market of this nature? The fences are blocking our things here. We are selling spare parts. Customers are not coming to the market again because the shops on the roads have been blocked by the fences.
“I want to appeal to our governor to prevail on the contractor to dismantle the fences in the interest of the over one hundred thousand traders in this market. You also need to understand that this is the biggest spare parts market in the state. People do some from other towns, cities, villages and states to buy spare parts. If they cannot gain access to the things we are selling, how do you want them to patronise us? We are begging.
Another trader who identified himself as Obande Mike appealed to the governor to do something about the matter.
“I am using this medium to appeal to the governor to do something. We have over 100 thousand traders in this market. Our sales have been affected as a result of this development. We want the governor to do something”.
