Restructuring Bola Ige market

THE idea of an ultramodern market befitting the cosmopolitan the city of Ibadan, Oyo State, was the vision of the late governor of Oyo State, Chief Bola Ige of blessed memory. When the market became a reality, the governor was almost deified for reaching a milestone in giving the most populous city in West Africa a modern market. It was a masterpiece because it had almost all the modern facilities it needed to function. It is a market that attracts people far and near to do business. The great mind that brought this to reality was eulogised for this great accomplishment. The market, without an iota of doubt, provides opportunities for millions of people. By extension, it reduces the rate of crime in the metropolitan areas because those who could be troublemakers find opportunity in the market to engage in meaningful activities which give them an income. Besides buying and selling, which is the hallmark of activities in the market, various auxiliary services grew in the market and such activities also projected its image positively.

Be that as it may, the global economic situation has direct effects everywhere. There is no place that is immune to the devastating effects of global economic situations. It results in unemployment. Those who are professionals have challenges and invariably some lose jobs; many graduates who have no jobs are constantly on the move, looking for a place to keep soul and the body together. Such people found their greener pasture at Bola Ige Market. Conceptually, this accounts for the increasing and ever-expanding size of the market. Those who knew when the market was opened would wonder how it has become what it is now. Thanks to the initiators in blessed memory. Kudos to the successive administrators in Oyo State for keeping the vision and mission alive.

The restructuring that has taken place and is still ongoing is for the good of the users of the market, except that some of the newly constructed stalls / shops do not meet the international market standards because they look like a prison yard. The windows are small and some are without windows, which portends serious danger to traders. There are other shortcomings in the changing physical phase of the market. One of such is the lack of parking spaces, which discourages shopping. Consequently, there is no easy movement of vehicles into the market. This makes casual observers  to have misgivings. Definitely, the motive  for citing the market in that location has not been taken into consideration.

The directives given to remove counters with a view to replacing them with concrete blocks is a welcome development. It aims at giving permanent structure to the users and installing safety devices to forestall accidents which may cause destruction of property. As good as this directive is, however, there is a missing link. Those whose means of livelihood depend on the makeshift shops allocated to them were not considered. Those who occupied the shops which were demolished sit in open places and pitiably, they are being scorched by the sun day and night. Telling them to vacate the place without providing alternatives is a serious oversight. A lot of them have no sources of income and they have families, extended families, friends and a host of others who depend on them. Where will most of them put their wares pending the completion of new shops? Pitiably, those whose places have been destroyed hang around like chicks that have no place to roost. There is the need to promote dialogue with the management of the market that relays government policy to the traders. This will facilitate understanding of government intensions and reception of policies.

The traders ought to have been considered for acting responsibly in the payment of taxes and rent to support the government in its drive of transformation agenda. There is a need to look into their plight in the market and know where the shoe pinches them. A stich in time saves nine.

• Oyetola writes in from Ibadan, Oyo State.

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