Ogun community preserves ancient barter trade and festival despite 15-year blackout

Residents rely on generators and solar power, with solar-powered streetlights installed through community efforts. The nine-day market in Makun Omi is one of the few places where goods like fish, yam, and garri are exchanged, attracting traders from Delta, Bayelsa, Lagos, and other regions. The Okosi Festival, a boat regatta held every May, promotes unity and cultural preservation, drawing participants from within Nigeria and the diaspora.

Community leaders and residents, including Mrs. Tawakalitu Owoseni of the Obagoroye age group, Mrs. Adepeju Okulenu, the Yeye Aro of Makun Omi Kingdom, and Otunba Gbenga Onayiga, the Apagunpote of Makun Omi Kingdom, highlighted the challenges posed by infrastructural neglect, which they believe undermines the economic and tourism potential of their cultural assets. They appealed to the government for intervention in electricity supply and road development. Oba Kazeem Salami, the Osobia of Makun Omi Kingdom, emphasized the festival's role in fostering unity and community development.

The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Chief Adewale Okulenu, noted that the lack of electricity affects the entire Ogun Waterside Local Government Area. The Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, Dr. Ola Awakan,