The current plan by Abia State Government to remodel the Ariaria international market to meet international standards and make it conducive for business activities to be carried out without fear of being overrun by flood has received the commendation of Traders at the popular International Market Aba.
Speaking with journalists on the on going effort, the treasurer of the market and remodelling work sub committee Chairman of the Ariaria International Market, Sir. Hyacinth Ositadinma Nnabude who expressed the excitement of traders, noted that all those in the area whose shops are affected are looking forward to the remodelling process with open arms.
Sir. Nnabude disclosed that with the current arrangements reached between the tripartite committee comprising the state government, the traders and the developer Checkbest International Limitd, no trader will loose his shop as they have the right of first refusal.
Sir. Nnabude also pointed out that as part of the arrangement to ensure that no trader is kept out of business during the remodelling process, the developer Checkbest International Limited would provide alternative relocation shops for traders to continue doing their businesses.
Also Speaking, a member of the committee, Prince Stanley Obazuo Meshach, commended the state government and the developer for their seriousness in remodelling market, noting the challenges they go through daily in carrying out their businesses.
He called on those who are still working against the development of the market to join hands with them to achieve the remodelling of the market.
“I want to thank our Governor, His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti for all his efforts in transforming the market.
“The developer has put quite a lot of efforts in getting the job done. He has built about 400 shops for the relocation of the traders. This shows that the government is interested in the welfare of the people.
“We have a good working relationship with the developer and we have had meetings with him on two occasions and we told him about the perennial floodings issues that the traders have been facing” Meshach stated.
Other traders who spoke to journalists including Hon. Uche Ikechi, Chief Eberechi Martin Maduka, Comrade Uchenna Echeka and Mr. Uchenna Onyejiemeli all lamented the current terrible state of the market which include, leaking roofs, flooding when it rains resulting in the destruction of goods worth millions of Naira.
They therefore promised to ensure that they give all their support to the developer to ensure that the dream of remodelling is achieved.
On his part, the developer and Managing Director of Checkbest International Limited, Mr. Chiedozie Njoku disclosed that part of the agreement entered into with the state government is to provide alternative trading places for traders where they would continue doing their businesses while the remodelling process is been done, adding that the arrangement is quite different from what it used to be, where most traders lost their shops.
Mr. Njoku further revealed that they came into agreement with the government that no trader who is affected by the remodelling would loose his shop, adding that, the right of first refusal would be given to the traders once the remodelling process is completed.
“So no trader is going to lose his shop in Ariaria based on the agreement we have with the government.
“The remodeling of the international market that we are undertaking in state was prompted by the need to redevelop and remodel our international markets into a truly international market of international standards in line with what the present administration is doing, the general infrastructural development.
“Unlike in the past where some developments were not thought through thoroughly before the start of the traders had to lose not just their shops but sources of income and livelihood.
“We didn’t want to make the same mistakes the last or previous administration made that affected Ariaria.
“And we’re also going to do the remodeling in phases so that not all the traders or all the sections of the market that we have been giving will be affected at the same time,” Mr. Njoku reassured .
