Kwara traders protest against market barricades, decry economic hardship
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Kwara traders protest against market barricades, decry economic hardship

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Hundreds of traders and shop owners from Ilorin’s bustling Post Office and Challenge districts took to the streets on Monday to protest the Kwara State Government’s erection of barricades restricting access to their shops.

Carrying placards with messages such as “Don’t kill us,” “Challenge is a central market,” and “Single entrance can’t contain us,” the protesters expressed frustration over the barriers’ impact on their businesses.

“Our businesses have been badly affected as we cannot get customers to buy from us. This economic hardship is seriously biting harder,” one trader said during the demonstration.

The barricades are part of a government-led initiative to reclaim setbacks and curb road encroachments in commercial areas. The project has blocked major roads connecting Post Office, Challenge, Ahmadu Bello Way, and Tanke Road in Ilorin.

However, traders say the initiative has done more harm than good, leaving them struggling to sustain their livelihoods.

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Over the weekend, tensions escalated after one of the barricade entrances was reportedly torn down. In response, the Kwara State Police Command deployed officers to the Challenge area to maintain peace.

“We are here to maintain peace and order,” a senior police officer, who requested anonymity, said. “The police command remains committed to its constitutional responsibility of ensuring harmony.”

Traders like Mrs. Toyin Samson lamented the daily struggles caused by the restricted access. “We have been denied our daily bread because many customers have abandoned us,” she said. “We appeal to the government to provide more entrances to the Challenge market.”

At a quarterly press briefing, the Chairman of the Kwara State Geographic Information Service (KW-GIS), ESV Abdulraheem Sulyman, defended the barricades as necessary for security.

“This exercise is being carried out across all 16 local government areas in Kwara State to secure public institutions and major roads,” Sulyman explained, adding that the initiative aligns with Federal Government directives to enhance public safety.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara condemned the government’s actions, calling them “economic sabotage.”

“This is not only an act of economic sabotage but a calculated attempt to strangle the poor masses and young entrepreneurs who depend on these areas for their livelihoods,” PDP Chairman Babatunde Mohammed said in a statement.

The party pledged to reverse the decision if elected in 2027. “We will prioritise removing these oppressive walls to restore access and ensure businesses thrive,” Mohammed added.

The PDP also criticised the government for lacking empathy. “Erecting thoughtless fences that effectively shut down access to small-scale businesses shows a complete disregard for the economic well-being of citizens,” the party stated.

For now, traders and business owners continue to appeal for swift action to ease access to their markets and restore normalcy to Ilorin’s commercial hubs.

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