Thousands of traders at the two major and biggest markets in Aba, the NGWA Road and Ariaria International Markets have had their expectations of returning to normal business life soon dashed.
News Echo gathered that the Abia state government had failed to leave up to its earlier promise to conclude the reconstruction work going on at the markets before the first week of January 2022.
Over 20,000 traders drawn from the two major markets had their business activities disrupted following the decision of the government to demolish and remodel some sections of the markets.
At the Ngwa Road Market (Ahia-Ohuru), lines 1-2 were demolished since June 2021 and have been under construction for several months now while in Ariaria International Market, the A-Line, C-Line and Medical Line in Ariaria were demolished in September 2021 with nothing too serious yet in place.
Rationalizing the exercise, the state government in two major statements through the Former Information Commissioner’ Chief John Okiyi Kalu said the flood-prone nature and the dilapidated state of most of the buildings at the markets had made it imperative for the reconstruction exercise.
Chief Okiyi Kalu, now the current Trade and Industry had noted that not to do so will amount to placing the lives of traders and other users of the markets at great risk and promised that the reconstruction exercise will be completed on or before July 2021 in the case of NGWA road market, and December 2021for Ariaria market.
It was said then that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu will personally supervise the handing over of the reconstructed shops to their owners within July 2021 in the case of NGWA Road Market and the first week of January 2022 for Ariaria International Market both of which has not happened.
News Echo went on thorough observation and can authoritatively report that the traders will have to wait for a very long time to restart their plans of returning to normal business life.
As of the time of reporting today February 15, 2022 reconstruction work at the two markets are still ongoing with fears that the reconstruction efforts at Ariaria may not be concluded several months to come while there’s a glimpse of hope at Ahia-Ohuru.
Most of the traders and their leaders who spoke with the News Echo both lamented, their ordeals as well the loss of their customer base since their displacement from their various shops.
A trader at Ariaria, Kenneth Uzodinma said, “look, we saw this coming. you can’t believe it, since we were displaced, I have lost a huge sum of money just like most other traders displaced. Most of our customers use to come from outside the state and they come straight to our shops for business transactions.
“But with the demolition of our shops and our subsequent displacement, these customers mostly from outside the state do not know where to locate us as we have been scattered all over the place.
“Now because they have to move on with their businesses, most of our customers have found alternative markets. This has resulted in a huge loss for us.
“The worse was last festive period. You know how businesses use to boom during the period. But I have to tell you that we the displaced traders could not be part of the business boom during the last festive period because we don’t have any place to display our wares.
“As a result, we lost billions of Naira. As I am talking to you now most of the displaced traders may not recover from the losses they have incurred since the demolition of their shops. If nothing is urgently done, most of us will soon be completely out of business”
Some of the traders, however, said they are not surprised at the failure of the Abia state government to fulfil its promise adding that what would have surprised them instead, is if the authorities had kept its words.
Elder Emeka Igara, the state government-appointed Chairman of Ariaria market, blamed the situation on the rainy season, noting that the Government is mindful of the travails of the displaced traders and is doing everything possible to fast track the reconstruction work.
“The fact is that the state government is desirous of remodelling and reconstructing the market and also in good time. The rainy season has not helped the situation. But let me assure the traders that very soon the shops will be ready.
“As you are aware our committee was recently reconstituted. Very soon, we will hold a meeting with the contractor handling the project and thereafter will come out with a definite date for the completion of the project.
“Although the reconstruction exercise is supposed to be a private partnership initiative, due to the hardships being faced by the displaced traders, the government has decided to intervene with a view to fast-tracking work. And like I said earlier on, sooner than later, the project will be ready.”
But much as the authorities may have explained away the cause of the delay in completing the reconstruction exercise at the two major markets, News Echo findings revealed that glaring lack of financial prowess on the part of the contracting firms to handle the project as a major reason for the stalling of the projects.
For one the contracting firms were said to have been given the reconstruction work on the understanding that they will wholly foot the project with the traders and original shops owners paying back later on instalment bases.
But it has been revealed that the firms especially that handling the Ngwa Road Market may not have the financial wherewithal to carry on with the project as originally conceived.
Sources at the market told News Echo that even the current state of work done was made possible by the initial N25, 000 registration fees paid by all the displaced traders.
“When that money finished, work stopped. We understand that their bankers are not willing to commit themselves. The next thing the firm did was to call us the traders’ for a meeting last November.
“At the meeting, the firm asked us to pay another N500,000. But most of the traders objected on the ground that they were told that government will build the market and then the traders’ will pay back later on instalment bases. That is why you see the project dragging.”
However reacting to the development, a head at the contracting firm handling Ngwa Road Market said that the Abia state government has no business with the reconstruction exercise, noting that it is purely a private partnership initiative.
“Government is not supposed to give us money and we are not expecting any money from the state government. This is a private partnership initiative.”
He reiterated that the fact that the project is a private partnership initiative and noted that the firm is working closely with its bankers both on when the project will be completed as well as the terms of repayment by the shops’ owners.
He also confirmed the meeting between the Firm and the traders’, but could not give details. Meanwhile, as the reconstruction exercise continues to move at a snail-like pace, the fortunes of the displaced traders continue to nosedive at a jet-like pace.
While making this report, News Echo also learnt that another meeting will take place between the traders and leaders of the Ministry of Trade and Investment on Tuesday, 13th February, 2022.
