Akure Monarch Orders Market Closure for Festivals

Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade, the Deji and Paramount Ruler of Akure, has mandated the temporary closure of all markets, stalls, and shops in Akure on Monday, August 17, 2026, and Tuesday, September 1, 2026, to honor cultural traditions linked to the annual festivals. This directive was communicated by Adeyeye Michael, the spokesman for the monarch, who urged residents to comply.

The closure prohibits all trading activities, with the exception of registered pharmacy stores, while patent medicine stores are not exempt. The palace clarified that there would be no restrictions on human or vehicular movement during the festival days.

Compliance was observed as traders shut their shops, with palace aides monitoring the markets to ensure adherence. Affected markets include Oja Oba, Isolo Market, Oshodi, and Arakale Market.

Commercial transport operators expressed concerns over the impact of the market shutdown on their earnings, with some reporting significant drops in daily income.