Market women at the age-old Gbagi Market in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Monday protested the alleged abandonment of a shop reconstruction project after they reportedly paid N2m each for the replacement shops.
The protesters, who carried placards, appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene and compel the contractor to complete the shops.
Some of the placards read, “Seyi Makinde, build our shop in Gbagi,” and “Ati san owo, Seyi Makinde pelu Hamex Hamed Ebawa ko shop wa.”
The dispute dates back to 2025, when the Oyo State Government commenced an initiative to redevelop the market.
Since the project began, traders have raised concerns over the demolition of existing shops, the displacement of shop owners, the conversion of motor parks into shops and the amounts demanded for the replacement shops.
Speaking with our correspondent on Monday, an 86-year-old trader, Adegoke Funke, appealed to the contractor to return to the site and complete the shops, saying the traders had paid the agreed amount.
“He should come and complete our shop. We have given him all the N2m,” she said.
Another trader, Oladapo Eunice, said the demolition of the old shops on January 3 had left traders struggling to sustain their businesses.
“Since January 3, the old buildings have been demolished. Since then, we have been struggling. Some people took loans to pay the money, while some are already sick,” she said.
She added that almost all the affected traders had paid N2m each, but were now being told that the money was only enough for the construction completed so far.
“We agreed on N2m, and everyone has paid. If there is anyone who has not paid, it will only be a few. This morning, they told us this was where our N2m stopped.
“My shop was not as small as this before, but we accepted it because they presented themselves as the government. We don’t understand how Seyi Makinde allowed Ahmed to make us suffer,” Eunice said.
A trader, Mrs Balogun Abibat, said the amount initially agreed upon for the replacement shops had changed several times before the traders eventually paid N2m each.
“We had an agreement for N1.6m. They told us in January to vacate the shops, promising to help us rebuild them. After two to three months, they changed the amount to N5m and N7m. When we went to the Secretariat, the amount was reduced to N2m.
“We have paid that, and this is where they stopped building the shops. We expected them to finish the work, but they are telling us that this is where our money got to. We had an agreement; why do they want to change it? We are all women; why are they making us suffer?” she asked.
Balogun said the traders had been exposed to the sun and rain while waiting for the shops to be completed. She added that some had been unable to open their businesses for days because of illness.
She appealed to the governor to intervene and prevail on the contractor to complete the project.
Similarly, Mrs Olawunmi Ogunyinka said the traders were initially asked to pay N1.6m each, but the amount was later increased to N5m after their shops were demolished.
She said the matter was taken to the state secretariat, where the amount was reportedly reduced to N2m in February.
“On January 3, they demolished the shops. Before then, there was an agreement that we would pay N1.6m for the replacement shops. After the demolition, he said the amount was N5m. We went to the Secretariat, and it was agreed in February that we would pay N2m. The governor intervened on our behalf again,” she said.
Ogunyinka questioned the cost of the project, arguing that the traders could have constructed the shops themselves for much less.
“If we build the shops ourselves, we would not spend more than N400,000, considering their sizes. They asked us to pay N2m and have now said that the money only covered the uncompleted buildings. This is not right. They should return and complete the work they started,” she said.
The traders called on the state government to intervene in the dispute and ensure that the reconstruction project was completed to enable them to return to their shops and resume their businesses.
When contacted, the Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives was directly responsible for the project.
He promised to get back to our correspondent but had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.