Stranded Traders Sell Off Livestock, Perishable Goods Over Poor State of Ogbomoso/Oyo Road

News/Opinion

Stranded Traders Sell Off Livestock, Perishable Goods Over Poor State of Ogbomoso/Oyo Road

Reported by Ayooluwa Afolabi

Traders from the northern part of the country plying the old Ogbomoso-Oyo Road have resorted to selling off their goods such as livestock and perishables at low prices due to the deplorable condition of the road, DAILY POST reported.

It was gathered that many lives have been lost as a result of the deplorable condition of the old road.

According to DAILY POST, many travelers and indigenes of Ogbomoso have made several appeals to the Federal Government to complete the new Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin expressway.

A Daily Post correspondent learned that many passengers are still plying the old road due to the non-completion of the new road.

It was learned that a trailer fell on the road on Thursday, leading to the death of four people in Ogbomoso.

Investigation made by the DAILY POST on Saturday revealed that many of the traders plying the Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin federal road within Ogbomoso metropolis have resorted to selling off their perishable goods at ridiculously low prices to avert total losses.

An Ogbomoso indigene, Mr Adebowale Akindele, disclosed that he purchased a goat at a very low price from a stranded truck conveying livestock.

He said, “Livestock like goat, sheep, and even cattle, as well as other perishable goods like pepper, tomato, and others, are being disposed of by traders transporting them from the northern part of the country at reduced prices to residents of Ogbomoso.”

A trader who identified himself as Abdullahi, from Sokoto, lamented the deplorable condition of the road.

“We are selling the animals at low prices because they are distressed. The long traveling and the unexpected hold up in Ogbomoso cause heavy strain on the animals making them die, so we have to dispose of some of them.”

A trader who did not reveal his name noted that he and his colleagues decided to sell off the livestock instead of losing the animals.

“Many others are taking advantage of the situation. The animals may be affected by stress, and lack of food and water due to the unnecessary delay caused by the gridlock resulting from the Ogbomoso damaged road.

“A big he-goat whose market price ranges from N35,000 to N40,000 is being sold for as low as N10,000,” he said.