By Saeed Tijjani
The Shoprite mall located in the Fate area of Ilorin has indefinitely ceased its operations, leaving the once bustling shopping complex closed with padlocks and an uncertain future.
The indefinite closure of the popular mall has been attributed to a combination of high electricity costs and a challenging economic climate.
Our reporter who visited the scene on Tuesday found a crowd of people gathered at the entrance, gazing at the locked doors.
A staff member, who spoke to 9japarrot Media on the condition of anonymity, revealed that the branch had been facing significant operational difficulties for about a year.
According to the unnamed staff, the mall’s management has been struggling with exorbitant electricity bills, which have become unaffordable due to a sharp decline in sales.
The cost of running generators with diesel has also become an unsustainable burden, rendering the business unable to operate effectively.
The source added that the Ilorin branch is not an isolated case, as approximately seven out of the 27 Shoprite stores in Nigeria have been affected by similar challenges and have also been shut down.
The employee lamented the lack of support from top management, stating that despite persistent calls for intervention, the company continued to face supply chain issues, with only a limited quantity of Coca-Cola products being delivered before the final shutdown.
“They stopped supplying us, the employee said, and we kept asking what we were supposed to do, but they kept saying they were doing something until they eventually shut down.”
The worker expressed deep frustration and uncertainty about the future, noting that many of his colleagues are now without a job.
The employee also warned that more store closures could be on the horizon, as many of the remaining operating branches are also struggling to manage high energy costs.
Recalled, the mall stopped operations owing to massive looting and destruction of wares and properties worth billions of naira by suspected hoodlums, miscreants who attacked and carted away several items under the guise of the popular #EndSARS protests in 2020.
This latest shutdown may be closely linked to the aftermath of the unpleasant incidents it experienced years ago, which may have a substantial impact on the brand’s sustainability.
Unfortunately, all attempts to contact the branch manager for further information were met with silence, as he didn’t respond to calls made to his line as at the time of filling this report.
