TALES  OF  AKIODE MARKET

THE MARKET WHICH IS CHARACTERIZED OF PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND SOCIAL STATUS- YOUNG AND OLD, RICH AND POOR IS AS BUSY AS THE GARAGE ITSELF, WITH FEW SHOPS AND MULTIPLE SHADES OF PRETTY TRADERS. ITS OFFERS VERITIES OF GOODS AND SERVICES.

THE TATTERED MARKET ROAD IS NOT A WELCOMING SIGHT TO BEHOLD, YET TRADERS STILL FIND COMFORT TO SELL THEIR GOOD COMFORTABLY. THE STENCH OF THE HUGE REFUSE CLOSE TO THE GUTTER CAN SEIZE THE BREATH OF A SOUL.

CUSTOMERS AND POTENTIAL BUYERS ARE ALWAYS INCONVENIENCED BY THE PARKED BUSES AND TRICYCLES IN THE MARKET, YET ACTIVITIES IN THE MARKET KEEPS MOVING LIKE EVER BEFORE. THE MARKET HARBOURS SHOP TRADERS, ABOKIS AND ROAD SIDE PETTY TRADERS.

SPEAKING WITH A FISH SELLER EBERE OMOH; SHE BARED HER MIND ON THE POOR STATE OF THE MARKET. “TRADING FOR US HERE IN THIS MARKET IS NOT EASY, DUE TO THE FACT WE HAVE TO JUGGLE BETWEEN THE BUSY PARK OCCUPIED BY COMMUTERS, THE ROUGH TERRAIN OF THE ROADS AND THEFT CASES. “ SHE SAID.

“ALTHOUGH , OVER THE YEARS WE HAD CONTRIBUTED MONEY TO THE CHAIRMAN TO HELP US RESTRUCTURE  AND PROFFER LASTING SOLUTION TO THE POOR ROADS AND TIGHT SPACE IN THE MARKET, BUT ALL WE HERE IS STORY.” OBVIOUSLY, MARKET SELLERS ARE NOT FINDING IT EASY TRADING HERE AT NIGHT BUT ALL WHAT WOULD THEY DO IF THEY DON’T TRADE.

THE POOR STATE OF THIS MARKET CALLS FOR AN URGENT ATTENTION FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMAN. LEFT WITH NO CHOICE, THE PEOPLE OF AKIODE MARKET CONSTANTLY BREATHE IN UNHEALTHY ODOUR THAT COMES FROM THE HUGE REFUSE DUMP.

AKIODE MARKET OPERATES DURING DAY TIME BUT FUNCTIONS MORE AT NIGHT. LARGE PEOPLE TRUNK THE MARKET TO PURCHASE HOME NEEDS AND OTHER STUFF.

ONE MAJOR, DISTINGUISHING FACTOR OF AKIODE NIGHT MARKET FROM OTHER NIGHT IS STRONG COMMUNITY SUPPORT OF THE TRADERS. TRADERS OF AKIODE MARKET COMBINED RESOURCES TO ACQUIRE A MASSIVE GENERATING SET TO POWER SHOPS AND LIT THE BULBS OF PETTY TRADERS’ SHADES IN THE MARKET.

THE MARKET IS RETATIVELY FREE OF SOCIAL VICES. SHEDDING MORE LIGHT ON THIS A MARKET TRADER, ANU OLUWAPO SAID THAT HOODLUMS ONLY FLOCK AROUND THE MARKET BUT DO NOT CARRY ENGAGE IN VIOLET ACT AROUND AKIODE MARKET.

“AKIODE MARKET IS WELL SECURED AND AS SUCH WE ARE NOT DISTURBED OR BOTHERED BY TOUTS” SHE ADDED. SHE FURTHER DISCLOSED THAT THE ONLY CHALLENGE FACING TRADERS IN THE MARKET IS SMALL TRADING SPACE AND DIRTS LITTERED AROUND THE MARKET.

HOWEVER, SHE SAID “WE HAVE LAID OUR COMPLAINS TO THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES TO HELP US MANAGE THE WASTE BIN FIND SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM  OF INADEQUATE TRADING SPACE”.