Oyo APC’s David Oluokun questions Governor Seyi Makinde over the delayed redevelopment of Agbowo Shopping Complex and the project’s stalled timeline.
The controversy surrounding the Agbowo Shopping Complex in Ibadan, Oyo State, has resurfaced as the long-delayed redevelopment of the iconic commercial facility continues to attract questions over the implementation of the concession agreement.
The project was flagged off by Governor Seyi Makinde in September 2020 after the state government leased the complex to Whitestone Global Limited for 50 years, with a proposed ₦4.9 billion investment and a completion target of May 2023.
The redevelopment was expected to transform the abandoned Agbowo Shopping Complex into a modern commercial centre and four-star hotel.
However, reports published during the project’s implementation documented complaints from contractors and suppliers over alleged unpaid bills and delays, while the promised transformation remained incomplete beyond the original timeline.
Against this backdrop, Oyo State APC Peace Advocates Publicity Secretary, Elder David Oluokun, has criticised the Makinde administration over what he described as the prolonged failure to deliver the Agbowo project.
In a statement, Oluokun questioned the administration’s record on the project and drew a comparison between the unresolved Agbowo redevelopment and Governor Makinde’s political messaging about “resetting” Nigeria.
Full statement below:
AGBOWO SHOPPING COMPLEX: MAKINDE’S ALBATROSS OF MALADMINISTRATION
If a government cannot deliver on its promise to transform one major shopping complex after years in office, how convincing is its promise to “reset” Nigeria within four years?
This is the question the people of Oyo State deserve to ask regarding the long-running controversy surrounding the Agbowo Shopping Complex in Ibadan.
THE FACTS
In 2019, traders and occupants of the Agbowo Shopping Complex were displaced as the Oyo State Government moved to redevelop the facility.
On September 23, 2020, Governor Seyi Makinde formally flagged off the renovation, reconstruction and remodelling of the complex. At the ceremony, his administration announced that the facility had been concessioned to Whitestone Global Limited under a 50-year long-lease arrangement, with a proposed ₦4.9 billion capital injection.
The stated objective was to transform the moribund complex into premium commercial real estate with a four-star hotel. The governor also stated that the project would be completed within 24 months, with reports at the time putting the expected completion date at May 2023.
Governor Makinde had presented the project as a major economic intervention that would revive the once-vibrant commercial hub, create employment opportunities and restore the complex to productive use.
However, the promised timeline has long elapsed.
As of October 2026, more than three years have passed since the publicly stated completion target, yet the Agbowo project remains a subject of concern, with reports over the years documenting stalled work, complaints from contractors and renewed abandonment of the facility. A 2022 report by The Guardian, for instance, documented complaints from contractors over alleged non-payment and the stalling of the redevelopment project.
The situation raises legitimate questions about the concession arrangement, the status of the promised investment, the obligations of all parties involved and the reason the project has not been delivered within the timeframe publicly announced by the government.
Agbowo was once one of the notable commercial landmarks in Ibadan. Its decline has implications beyond the physical structure itself. Traders, businesses, workers and other residents who depended on the complex have had to contend with the consequences of its prolonged deterioration.
THE BIG QUESTION
Governor Makinde presented the Agbowo concession in 2020 as evidence that his administration could achieve within two years what previous administrations had failed to accomplish over a much longer period.
Yet the promised transformation has not been delivered within the announced timeline.
This naturally raises a question about the broader political message of the administration.
If a government could not meet the publicly announced completion target for Agbowo, how should the people of Oyo State assess broader promises of transformation and development?
The issue is not merely about a building.
It is about accountability, transparency, timelines and the fulfilment of publicly announced commitments.
The people of Oyo State deserve clear answers.
What is the current status of the 50-year concession?
How much of the proposed ₦4.9 billion investment was actually committed to the project?
Why was the May 2023 completion target not achieved?
What are the current obligations of the Oyo State Government and the concessionaire?
And, most importantly, when will the people of Oyo State finally see the promised transformation of Agbowo Shopping Complex?
These are questions that should not be dismissed as politics. They concern a public asset and a project presented to the people of Oyo State as an important economic intervention.
The Agbowo experience should therefore serve as a reminder that government promises must be matched by measurable results, transparency and accountability.
As the 2027 political season approaches, the people of Oyo State will ultimately have the opportunity to examine the records, promises and performance of all political actors and make their own assessment.
Elder David Oluokun
BSA VOICE OF REASON MEDIA
