The Abia State Honorable Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, has said the Government of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu will work to ensure that the remodelled Ahịa Ọhụrụ Lines 1 and 2 is handed over to traders before Christmas.
The Commissioner also said that the Governor has promised to subsidize the shops to the tune of N50m for the first 100 traders that will return to the shops, assuring that the sum has already been set aside. He further assured that the Governor will personally hand over the allocation papers to the traders at a date to be announced soon.
Chief Okiyi made the disclosure when he met and interacted with Ahịa Ọhụrụ traders and other market leaders during a Town Hall meeting organized by the ministry of trade and investment at Hotel Du Golf, Aba.
He pledged that traders displaced as a result of the demolition of the market would be given preferential treatment when the allocation begins, adding that the Governor has directed that none of them should lose their shop.
The Commissioner reiterated Governor Ikpeazu’s commitment to leave a lasting impact in Aba and Abia State as a whole, assuring that Port Harcourt, Ngwa, Ohanku, Obohia and other ongoing road projects in Aba would be completed.
The Commissioner emphasized the importance of Port Harcourt Road to Ahịa Ọhụrụ market, stating that work would commence there next week. He bemoaned the impact of heavy rainfall this year which slowed the pace of work on different road projects currently ongoing across the city, describing it as natural occurrence beyond human control.
“Our hardworking traders should exercise more patience as Governor Ikpeazu has resolved to complete all ongoing projects in consonance with his promise not to abandon any project started by his administration”, he said.
Responding, the traders who expressed appreciation to the government for organizing the meeting to update them on such critical matters affecting them restated their support to the Governor Ikpeazu-led administration and promised to continue to work with the developer handling the Ahịa Ọhụrụ project to ensure that the remodelling process is completed on time.
The meeting also had in attendance Special adviser to the governor on Trade and Investment, Hon Kalu A. Orji, the MD of Peacock Urban Regeneration Corporation Ltd (developers), Dr. Uju Anusionwu, Chairman of Ngwa Road Market Committee, Mr Chijindu Ojogho and Hon. James Ochunkwo, among others.
