Remodelling of Ekeoha

 

 

Remodelling of Ekeoha
No Cause for Alarm
…Chairman Assures Traders

The planned remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba by the present administration of Abia State sends shivers down the spine of the traders writes Jideofor Ugwanyi

It started like a joke when the present administration of Abia State through the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Dr. Isaac Chimezie Ukaegbu dropped the hint of the state government plan to remodel Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba alongside other major markets in Aba such as Ariaria International Market, Eziukwu Road Market, Ngwa Road Market and Ehere Market early this year so as to ensure safety and ease of doing business in the afore-mentioned markets.

The news appeared not to have gone down well with the traders of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba as some of them quickly came together and went on air to express their dissatisfaction with the government plan.

On the other hand, some doubting Thomases in the popular textile market in Abia State said there was scarcely any reason to warrant such government plan no matter how well-intentioned.

They dismissed it with a wave of the hand and a rumour peddled by some idlers in the market intended to cause panic among the traders.

They contended that nothing is wrong with the way Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba had been over the years up till now.

They advised the government to leave the market the way it is and pay attention to elsewhere where the need for remodelling is greater instead of wasting its resources on demolishing and remodelling the market, which they described as solid and standard in all ramifications.

But majority of the traders expressed the fear of losing their shops if eventually the market is remodelled citing recent cases where traders in other markets in the state lost their shops after the markets were pulled down for remodelling.

Others who built shops and are yet to recoup their investment, developers whose shops are still under construction including those who are no longer in the market but now rent their shops to other traders appear to be worst hit and equally in the vanguard of the opposition against the planned remodelling of the market.

The situation is so serious to the extent that several attempts to placate the traders who had quickly come together in large numbers under the aegis of “Consign Traders” (sic) of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba have proved abortive.

The first meeting scheduled to hold at El Dorado Event Centre, Aba to explain government good intention concerning the remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba to the traders ended in fiasco as the ‘Consign Traders ‘ of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba insulted the contractor sent by the government from Umuahia to brief the executive, stakeholders and traders of the market on how the remodelling would be carried out. 

They also levelled all manner of malicious allegations against the chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba just to tarnish his image.

They accused him of collecting N200million from the state government and colluding with them to take their shops from them under the guise of remodelling the market.

Another meeting scheduled by the Office of the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chimezie Isaac Ukaegbu to hold at Umuahia comprising the executive and some prominent traders of the market was also truncated by the so-called “Consign Traders” of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba.

The situation that day was so rowdy and no meaningful discussion about the remodelling of the market took place.

Eventually, the third meeting, which held at the Office of the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry with the central executive, stakeholders and some patrons of the market achieved a significant success.

The Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry explained everything pertaining to the remodelling of the market to them in a way all of them understood.

He said that the remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba would be in phases adding that the shops that collapsed at Zone 13 of the market last year would be done first.

He disclosed that an alternative place would be found for them to be doing business until the remodelling of that phase is completed.

Contrary to expectation, the tension in the market has continued to heighten with the unruly traders desperately looking for a way to thwart the government decision.

Since then, rumours and propaganda have become the order of the day in the market as the traders who are against the government plan have continued to brainwash other traders and inciting them against the government as well as the chairman of the market who most of the traders now see as a betrayer.

Be that as it may, the remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba is no wishful thinking or mere hearsay.

It is a stark reality and irrevocable government decision, which some of the traders still find so difficult to believe or accept.

In line with the above assertion, the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) reiterated the determination of his administration to remodel Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba earlier communicated to the traders through the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chimezie Isaac Ukaegbu to the hearing of all and sundry during his on-the-spot visit to assess the extent of work done so far on Ehi Road and Kent Street, Aba on Friday, March 8, 2024.

Despite Dr. Alex Otti’s disclosure of his administration’s unwavering determination to remodel Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba for the umpteenth time, the “Consign Traders” of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba and their cohorts are undeterred in their bid to truncate government plan by all means such as inviting some media houses into the market without the knowledge and approval of the chairman and taking them round the market to film good portions of the market, which they want to use to criticize or blackmail the government.

Nevertheless, a Town Hall meeting was convened at Abia Hotel, Umuahia on Saturday, July 6, 2024 between the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry and the executive, zonal leaders and elders of the Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba to deliberate further on the remodelling of the market and to douse whatever tension, dissatisfaction or controversy arising in the market as a result of the planned remodelling of the market once and for all.

In that meeting, the Commissioner of Trade, Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chimezie Isaac Ukaegbu told the traders without mincing words that there is no going back on the remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba.

He said that the present administration of the state believes in negotiation and consultation, hence the convening of the meeting to ensure that everything would be done in a way that would be of immense benefits to both the traders and the government.

He told them that Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba is not the only market in Abia State that is slated for remodelling by the present administration.

He charged the chairman of the market, Comrade Emeka Okeke to inform all the traders of the market about the government decision to go ahead with the remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba without let or hindrance in order to work out the modalities for the execution of the project.

However, all efforts by the chairman to convene a meeting in the market informing the traders about the government decision as directed by the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry have been thwarted by some of the unruly traders who are bent on creating a chaotic scenario in order to unleash mayhem in the market.

In a chat with newsmen, the chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba, Comrade Emeka Okeke commended the traders-friendly governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) for his love for Abia markets and good plan for Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba.

He assured the traders that there is no cause for alarm on the government decision to remodel Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba.

He advised the traders not to allow anybody or group of persons masquerading under the guise of “Consign Traders” of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba or whatever name to deceive them or incite them against the planned remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba.

He allayed their fears of losing their shops after remodelling stressing that the government of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti has their best interest at heart.

He pointed out that Dr. Alex Otti’s vision for them is to ensure that they do business in a conducive environment reiterating that traders who own shops in the market would not lose their shops after remodelling of the market so long as they have valid allocation papers.

He called on his detractors and those who are busy plotting for his removal as the chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba as well as those who are poised on destabilizing the market to sheathe their sword stressing that the remodelling of the market is already a fait accompli, which no trader can stop.

He assured Dr. Alex Otti of their unalloyed loyalty and continued support wishing him long life, good health and God’s protection as he pilots the affairs of Abia State to greater height.