Oyo Govt opens up on ‘replacing Gbagi Market Car Park with shops’

The Oyo State Government has debunked allegations that it converted the car park at the Bola Ige International Business Complex, commonly known as Gbagi Market, into shops and extorted money from traders in the process.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry, Hon. Adeniyi Adebisi, described the report as false and intentionally misleading. He said the claims were spread by an online blog and further circulated across social media to stir public discontent.

Adebisi explained that the area being referred to in the allegation was not a designated car park but rather an underutilized space that had become a hotspot for illegal vending and security threats. He said the decision to convert it into formal shops was made after wide consultations with market leaders and traders’ associations.

He stressed that the main car park at the market remains untouched and fully functional. According to him, the newly built stalls are located outside the core vehicle parking zone and are part of a phased redevelopment plan to improve structure and safety within the market.

The commissioner noted that the allocation of the shops followed a transparent and documented process, overseen by both the government and the leadership of the traders. He added that no trader was forced to pay any fees, and standard rates were communicated in advance.

“No one was coerced. Traders had the option to participate or not. The entire process was open and inclusive,” Adebisi stated. He further reassured that no trader would be displaced unjustly during the ongoing redevelopment.

He urged the public and media to verify facts before publishing or spreading unconfirmed reports that could create unnecessary tension. He also advised market stakeholders to direct their inquiries or complaints to the designated support desk at the Ministry.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Zonal Caretaker Committee of the Bola Ige Market, Alhaji Adetonan Morufu, while speaking on a radio programme in Ibadan, also dismissed the allegations. He confirmed that the redevelopment is a joint initiative and that no car park had been taken over for shops.