Remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Centre Aba
... Emeka Okeke, Others Hail Dr. Alex Otti's Ground-breaking Flag-off Ceremony
Remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Centre Aba
…Emeka Okeke, Others Hail Dr. Alex Otti’s Ground-breaking Flag-off Ceremony
The Ground-breaking Flag-off Ceremony of the Remodelling and Expansion of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba opens a new vista in the infrastructural restoration programme of Dr. Alex Otti’s administration and a world-class digital textile business in Abia State
The Ground-breaking Flag-off Ceremony of the Remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba to International standard took place at Ehi Road by Kent axis of the market on Thursday, August 8, 2024.
The governor and his large entourage comprising Hon. Ginger Obinna Onwusibe, the member representing Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency, the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa and others were welcomed with overwhelming jubilation on arrival by the traders, stakeholders, former chairmen of the market, the grand patron and patrons of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba, notable politicians, captains of industry and other dignitaries from far and near who came to witness the epoch-making event.
Thereafter, the event commenced with an opening prayer by Pastor Okorougo Aji, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Lands and Housing.
After presentation of kola nut, the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chimezie Isaac Ukaegbu poured encomium on Dr. Alex Chioma Otti for coming to Flag-off the historic event, which he described as another major milestone of his administration and a pivotal moment in the history of the iconic textile market.
He said that the market has faced numerous challenges over the years, such as decayed infrastructure and unconducive business environment, which have hindered its potentials and expressed great joy that a new chapter has been written in the market following Dr. Alex Otti’s administration determination to remodel the market.
He pointed out that Dr. Alex Otti’s vision for Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba is a testament of his love for the people of Aba and the entire state.
He disclosed that technology would play a vital role in the market and open more opportunities for traders to expand their customer base and patronage across the world.
He expressed optimism that the remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba would not only revitalize the market but also stimulate the overall development of Aba and Abia State.
He called on the traders, shop owners and stakeholders to support the project and work together with the government to ensure its successful implementation.
He assured the traders that they would not lose their shops due to the remodelling of the market and prayed that the project would bring prosperity to all.
Speaking also, the Project Developer and Labour Party candidate for Abia South Senatorial District in the 2023 election, Engr. Chinedu Onyeizu said that the project is designed in line with Dr. Alex Chioma Otti’s great commitment to transforming Aba into a destination of possibilities, competitiveness in commerce and industry in Africa.
He said that they are proud to be part of the epoch-making event and assured that their company, Rhino Home and Properties Limited is poised to deliver on schedule a World Class Textile Market with digital presence that would meet the expectations of the state government.
He stated that the development of the market would be phased to ensure that the traders are able to carry on with their business while they build adding that they have already secured adequate number of shops at the GSM Mall, Aba to accommodate all the traders that would be affected by the various stages of the development.
He disclosed that Dr. Alex Otti has graciously approved the expansion of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba to the Abia State College of Health Sciences and Management Technology, Aba (ABSCOHMAT) to ensure that the traders who are willing to remain in the Ekeoha business corridor are properly settled within.
He assured that the expansion would produce more than a sufficient number of shops to accommodate any displaced trader as a result of the remodelling project and would also capture most of the street traders doing business on the streets of Aba.
He disclosed that the new Ekeoha Shopping Complex, Aba would boast of the following features – fibre-optics connection to enhance Internet connectivity and telephone communication, adequate supply of electricity, mini-clinic, mobile ambulance, fire-fighting truck, CCTV cameras among others.
He said that the Ekeoha Shopping Complex when completed would compete favourably with other modern textile markets in the world in terms of features and services adding that it is designed to provide a conducive environment for micro-credit and shopping experience like never before.
He expressed profound gratitude to Dr. Alex Otti for championing a new course in Abia State and for finding time out of his tight schedule to come and perform the historic Flag-off ceremony.
He also appreciated some top government officials and stakeholders for collaborating with them in making the ceremony a huge success adding that they would deliver a great result that everybody would be proud of adding that similar models would be replicated in other markets in the state and beyond.
Speaking on behalf of all the traders in Abia State, the ASMATA President/Chairman, Eziukwu Road Market, Aba, Chief Alphonsus A. Udeigbo lauded Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) for doing them proud.
He described Dr. Alex Otti as a man of his words and assured the traders that since he has spoken that no trader would lose his or her shop after the remodelling exercise that they should not be afraid.
He pledged the unwavering loyalty and total support of all the traders in the state to his people-oriented administration urging him to sustain his good works in the state.
In his remarks, the Mayor of Aba South LGA, Hon. Chief Uche Nwogu expressed profound gratitude to Dr. Alex Otti for his giant strides in Abia State, especially Aba South LGA saying that no day passes without the governor doing one good thing for them.
He described the flag-off of remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba as a major democracy dividend of his administration adding that it would benefit all when completed.
Like Oliver Twist, he begged the governor to continue to do more for them wishing him long life, good health and more wisdom as he pilots the affairs of the state to greater height.
On his part, the member representing Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Ginger Obinna Onwusibe (Onwa) extolled Dr. Alex Chioma Otti’s Impactful administration within a very short time adding that each time they gather, either it is for the commissioning of a completed project or the flagging off of a new one.
He said that his good works are visible in different parts of the state emphasizing that the people of Abia State did not make mistake by given him their mandate to govern them in order to liberate the state from bondage.
He commended him for flagging off the remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Complex adding that those of them at Abuja used to boast with his name because of all the good things he is doing in Abia State, which he said can only be seen in Abuja or Lagos.
He thanked God for given them Dr. Alex Otti as their governor and urged him to sustain his good works in the state.
He told the people to sustain their support for his administration adding that he has a lot in store for them.
Contributing, the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa reassured the agitated traders that there is no legitimate shop owner in the market that would lose his or her shop.
He noted that so many of the buildings in the market are nearly collapsing pointing out that it would be foolhardy to wait till it kills someone before remodelling the market.
He said that it is better to do it now to save the lives of the people and told them not to panic because the governor has said that no one would lose his or her shop after the remodelling exercise.
In a vote of thanks, the chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba, Comrade Emeka Okeke on behalf of the traders expressed profound gratitude to Dr. Alex Chioma Otti for all the good things he has done for them since his assumption of office.
He described his love for them as beyond measure saying that when he came around Ehi Road, Aba early this year and saw the deplorable condition of the adjoining roads within Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba, he promised to rehabilitate them and without wasting time he awarded the contract and to their surprise the deplorable Ehi Road by Kent, Kent and Old Court Roads were completed within a very short time with solar-powered streetlights, good drainage and duly commissioned on Friday, May 24, 2024 as part of activities marking his one year in office.
He also eulogized him for awarding the contract for the reconstruction of the long-abandoned Port Harcourt Road, Aba to Julius Berger, a leading road construction giant in the nation describing it as unparalleled and the first of its kind in the state.
The popular, humble, respectful, quiet, articulate, indefatigable , forthright, quintessential and God-fearing chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba expressed great satisfaction with the ground-breaking flag-off of the remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba to International standard saying that it has put to rest all forms of misconception, doubt, hatred and agitations that seemed to have created tension in the market since the news was made known to the traders.
He lauded the developmental strides of the visionary, pragmatic and people-loving Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) in different parts of the state within a very short time in office and expressed confidence that the project would commence in earnest and completed on time just like so many other projects the governor has executed in the state.
He pledged their one hundred percent loyalty and total support to his administration and called on the traders to be patient with the governor adding that he means well for them and would not do anything that would hurt or pain them.
In his address entitled, “Beyond Commerce: Setting A New Template for Intergenerational Prosperity”, the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) allayed the fear of the traders about losing their shops after the remodelling exercise as well as provided ultimate answers to other grey areas bothering the traders.
According to Dr. Alex Otti, nobody would be short-changed because it is their collective project.
He said that the original shop owners would have first preference in the reallocation process once the project is completed, with provisions for installment payments.
He stated that the project would be driven by Public-Private Partnership anchored on a robust stakeholder-engagement and consultation framework.
He disclosed that the role of the government in the venture is to protect the interests of the state and the business community within the market, and guarantee that the project is executed in the long-term interest of the people who own shops or do their business there.
He said that the developers would be responsible for the holistic execution of the general and specific elements of the project, interfacing with the government and other stakeholders to ensure that execution is in tandem with approved structural designs.
He stated that the government has taken very proactive steps to secure temporary accommodation for the traders who do their day-to-day businesses in the market adding that the government through the State Ministry of Trade and Investments, the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA) and the Aba North Local Government Area would collaborate with the leadership of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba to manage the relocation process, seeing that the traders can still attend to their customers from the temporary location.
Speaking further, the governor said that to guarantee that the market is not shut down completely at any time over the lifecycle of the project, that the government has reached an understanding with the developers that the exercise would be done in phases so that when one section of the market is being remodelled, trading activities would be allowed to continue in other sections.
At the end of the governor’s address, he accorded the member representing Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe (Onwa) the honour to unveil the Remodelling of Ekeoha Shopping Complex and Hon. Ginger Obinna Onwusibe did just so in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The unprecedented crowd that gathered to witness the historic event went wild with jubilation hailing Dr. Alex Chioma Otti as God-send and the People’s Governor.
Some of those that graced the event were Ide John Udeagbala (Mayor, Aba North), Dr. Eric Egwuibe (Mayor, Obingwa), Hon. Sir Emma Otti (Acting State Labour Party Chairman), Hon. Ucheonye Stephen Akachukwu (member representing Aba Central State Constituency), Prince Okey Kanu (Commissioner for Information), Hon. Chimaobi Ebisike (former member representing Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency), Hon. Uche Maduako, Chief Mrs. B. U. Ahia (High Tension), Mrs. Temitope Nneoma, Sir David Kalu, Hon. Chima Oriaku.
Others included Chief Barth Azubuike Madubuko (JP), the Grand Patron/two-time Executive Chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba, Hon. Chinyere Matthew (former chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba), Hon. Ikechukwu Charles Valentine Nwafor popularly known as Mayor Okwuruoka (former chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba), Innocent Anosike (Mayor of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba), Franklin Onwumere (Secretary, Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba), Ichie Reginald Chilaka (PRO, Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba), Sir Christian Nwubani aka Mmirioma na Ubomiri (Patron, Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba), Hon. Jude Osuagwu (former secretary of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba), Okechukwu Onuh (Dutchman), Chinyere Obinna, Hon. Chidera Bennett Ndubuisi (Councillor representing Ekeoha Ward 8, Aba South Legislative Council).
The rest were Comrade Ozoekwe Chikadibia (Chairman, Ariaria International Market, Aba), Elder Dr. Uchechukwu Anyanwu ‘Onye Eze’ (Chairman of Ngwa Road Market, Aba), Barr. Charles Nwandu, Barr. Geoffrey Ike (Nwaticha), Chief Innocent Nwogwugwu, Chika Isiolu (Chief Task Force, Ariaria International Market, Chief Sunday Anokwuru (Overall Chairman, Old Court Road Market, Aba) among others.
