Ariaria reconstruction: Abia Govt to allocate shops to old traders before new ones

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia has said that no new trader would get shops at Ariaria International Market and Ahia Ohuru until the old owners had been allocated the remodelled shops.

This was contained in a statement signed by the state’s Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Chief John Okiyi-Kalu and made available to newsmen in Aba.

Ikpeazu stated this in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state while interacting with the executives and major stakeholders in the two major markets.

The governor also assured traders of Ariaria International and Ngwa road markets of his administration’s determination to remodel the markets to meet international standards.

Ikpeazu promised to make the interface with the traders frequently to ensure government integrated the them into the scheme of things.

He said government would ensure the traders returned to their shops and did businesses under a safer and conducive environment which was the reason it began remodeling the markets.

The governor, represented by Okiyi-Kalu, said government had awarded a contract to channel storm water flooding the project area in Ariaria International market, through Omuma Road currently under reconstruction.

Ikpeazu also said the government had taken further steps to ensure that double taxation in all markets was addressed.

The governor charged the traders to ensure sustenance of peace in the markets, warning against sabotaging efforts of the state government.

Ikpeazu appealed to traders displaced by the ongoing remodeling efforts to be patient with the slow pace of work in the markets which he attributed to the rainy season.

He promised speedy pace of work as soon as the dry season sets in.

He said that government provided alternative shops for the displaced traders within their market because of the importance it placed on their welfare of Abia people in general.

Some traders who spoke earlier at the meeting expressed concern over losing their shops and excessive taxation of the traders by the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue (ABIR).

They also complained of flooding of construction areas, including slow pace of work by the contractors, among other issues.