By Priscillia Eke
Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. David Umahi has extended the relocation of Abakpa main market traders to the new International Market from October 15 to January 10, 2020.
He also announced the relocation of the Building Materials Market to the moribund State-owned building materials factory at Ezzangbo, Ohaukwu local government area of the State.
Umahi announced the extension during a joint meeting between a delegation of CAN, traders and government on Thursday at the Governor’s Lodge, Abakaliki, also He directed that the shops belonging to all those who instituted a suit against the government over the matter should be resealed until all pending cases in Court be withdrawn.
Governor Umahi also directed that the agreement reached at the meeting be signed by all concerned, warning the traders against politicizing the grace extended to them by government.
He further offered the Lot 4 of the International market free of charge for the traders to develop on their own as well one-year free rentage for Lots 2 and 3.
He, however, explained that the rentage which was yet to be determined for the Lots would be uniform irrespective of the model and available facilities.
…. “I am going to move the date of the relocation of the market to 10th of January 2020 to honour CAN, but CAN i must get an agreement from all of them.
“Anybody that is a market person that does not sign this agreement individually must leave by 10th.
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“Building materials and Aluminum, I said it that day in the church that God spoke to me and said you should move to Ezzamgbo building material. “You better go there now: the final date for movement is on the 10th.
“Why I allow you to still be there is because by November we are going to inject N7.5 billion into the economy to build houses for schools and teachers and we want to patronize you while you are here.” He said
Earlier, the CAN Chairman in the State and the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Umahi on Religion and Welfare Matters, Rev. Fr. Abraham Nwali, who also headed the mediatory committee, had informed the Governor that the traders had agreed to drop all their misgivings against the government and accepted to relocate to the new market.
He, however, solicited that the government offers some palliatives to ease the traders’movement.
Recall that traders at the Abakpa Market and the building materials market, Abakaliki had been in running battle over government’s relocation order.
Some leadership of the traders association had dragged the government to court challenging the order as forceful eviction.
The incessant crises which trailed the development resulted to sealing of some shops in the market by the government which was later reopened following plea by CAN.
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