Ariaria Market Traders Welcome Remodelling Project, Commend Otti

Traders of the popular Ariaria International Market in Aba, Abia State, have expressed their heartfelt delight and enthusiasm over the current plan by the Abia State Government to remodel the market to meet international standards.

The proposed remodelling project aims to create a conducive environment for traders to carry out their businesses without the fear of being overrun by floods, which has been a perennial problem in the market.

Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Sir Hyacinth Ositadinma Nnabude, the Treasurer of the market and Chairman of the Remodelling Work Sub-Committee, expressed the excitement of traders, noting that all those in the area whose shops are affected are looking forward to the remodelling process with open arms.

“We are thrilled about the development, and we believe it will boost our businesses and improve our livelihoods,” Nnabude said.

The current arrangements reached between the tripartite committee comprising the state government, the traders, and the developer, Checkbest International Limited, ensure that no trader will lose their shop.

“We have the right of first refusal, which means that we will be given priority to occupy our shops once the remodelling process is completed,” Nnabude explained.

He also added that the developer has also agreed to provide alternative relocation shops for traders to continue doing their businesses during the remodelling process.

Prince Stanley Obazuo Meshach, a member of the committee, commended the state government and the developer for their seriousness in remodelling the market.

“I want to thank our governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, for all his efforts in transforming the market.

“The governor brought the developer to remodel the market, and we have a tripartite committee.

The developer has put in a lot of effort to get the job done. He has built about 400 shops for the relocation of traders, which shows that the government is interested in the welfare of the people,” Obazuo said.

Obazuo also 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.

“We are all stakeholders in this market, and it’s time for us to put our differences aside and work together to make our market great again,” he urged.

They expressed their happiness and promised to give all their support to the developer to ensure that the dream of remodelling is achieved.

Hon. Uchenna Ikechi, a trader who also spoke to Journalists said “We are happy that the government has finally taken steps to address our problems. We promise to cooperate with the developer and the government to ensure that the remodelling process is successful.”

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 can continue doing their businesses while the remodelling process is being done.

“This arrangement is quite different from what it used to be, where most traders lost their shops.

“We came into an agreement with the government that no trader who is affected by the remodelling would lose their shop. The right of first refusal would be given to the traders once the remodelling process is completed,” he said.

Njoku further revealed that the remodelling of the international market was prompted by the need to redevelop and remodel the market into a truly international market of international standards, in line with the present administration’s general infrastructural development plan.

“One of the processes that we agreed with the present administration in the remodelling process is to provide alternative trading places where the traders will continue doing their businesses while the reconstruction and remodelling is being done,” he explained.

The remodelling project is being done in phases, so not all traders or sections of the market will be affected at the same time.

“We didn’t want to make the same mistakes the last administration made that affected Ariaria.

“We’re committed to ensuring that the remodelling process is smooth and successful, and we’re working closely with the traders and the government to achieve that,” Njoku assured.

As the remodelling project progresses, the traders are optimistic that their market will soon be transformed into a world-class facility that will boost their businesses and improve their livelihoods.

“We are excited about the future of our market and we believe that this project will take our market to the next level, and we’re grateful to the government and the developer for their efforts, Nnabude added.

Other traders who spoke to journalists, including Chief Eberechi Martin Maduka, Comrade Uchenna Echeka, and Mr. Uchenna Onyejiemeli, all lamented the current terrible state of the market, which includes leaking roofs, flooding when it rains, and destruction of goods worth millions of Naira.

Ariaria Market Traders Welcome Remodelling Project, Commend Otti is first published on The Whistler Newspaper