Ogun Traders Count Losses After Mowe/Ofada Market Demolition

Traders at Mowe/Ofada Market in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State are appealing for government intervention after an overnight demolition destroyed shops and goods in the market.

The demolition was reported to have taken place around 2am on Friday, catching many affected traders by surprise. Several of them said they arrived later to find large parts of the market already pulled down.

Some traders put their losses at more than N500m, saying wares, shop fittings and other valuables were trapped in the exercise. They also said they were not given a fresh official notice immediately before the demolition.

One account said government officials had visited the market in 2023 over possible demolition plans, but traders believed the matter had been suspended after they explained their position. The latest demolition has now revived questions over notice, compensation and the handling of small businesses in the area.

The affected traders are asking Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration and relevant urban planning authorities to review the exercise and consider relief for those whose wares and structures were destroyed.

The state government had not issued a detailed public response to the traders’ latest claims at the time of this draft.

Sources: Vanguard and Daily Trust.