By James Ogunnaike
Traders at the Mowe/Ofada market in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State have accused the state government of demolishing the market without giving them any notice, alleging that goods valued at over N500 million were destroyed in the exercise.
The affected traders claimed that the demolition was carried out around 2:00 a.m. on Friday, before they arrived at the market to commence the day’s business activities.
Speaking with journalists during an inspection of the demolished market, one of the affected traders, Mrs. Kabira Ajiboye, alleged that no official notification was issued to traders before the exercise.
According to her, officials of the State Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning had previously visited the market in 2023 with the intention of demolishing the structures, but suspended the exercise after traders informed them that they had paid their rents to the local government authority.
