Ebonyi bans street, road trading as new market takes off

As a measure to ensure the effective take-off and continued business activities at the Margaret Umahi International market in Ebonyi, the State Government has banned street/road trading within and around the neighbourhood of the old Abakpa Market, Abakaliki with effect from March 4.
The development was contained in a release by the Secretary to the State Government and Coordinating Commissioner, Kenneth Ugbala, and confirmed by the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation on Tuesday at the end of State Executive Council meeting.
According to the release, the radius covered by the ban include major roads from old Government House to Onuebonyi Junction; Afikpo Road through Akanu Ibiam to Onuebonyi Junction; and all the streets within the neighbourhood of old Abakpa Market.
The release further said anyone found violating this government directive would be arrested, investigated and prosecuted in line with the law.
It enjoined all landlords of residential buildings around the old Abakpa Market to register with the Office of the Secretary to the State Government within five days from the date of the announcement, failure of which would attract serious financial penalty and or sealing of the building.
The SSG informed that demolition of dilapidated buildings within the old Abakpa Market would commence from March 9, 2020 to make way for the reconstruction of the place into the proposed new food, fruits and vegetable market.
While appreciating the traders and all those who facilitated the relocation processes to the new market, including security agencies, the State neighbourhood watch, Christian Association of Nigeria, Aiubaraoha Youth Assembly and the Executive Committee, the release advised those having complaints arising from the movement and/or relating to allocation or non-allocation of shops at the new International Market to direct them to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, who is also the Chairman of
the Executive Committee on International Market for urgent attention.
Meanwhile, consequent upon the relocation, all foodstuff, fruits and vegetable dealers have been directed to temporarily and immediately relocate to the new Spare-in-deo Park around Akanu Ibiam Junction, pending the completion of the remodelling and reconstruction works at the old Abakpa Market.
Recall that traders at the Abakpa Main Market, Abakaliki were finally relocated to the new Margaret Umahi International Market on March 1, 2020 after a long battle with government by some traders who initially opposed the movement.
A visit to the new market confirmed that business activities had fully commenced in it in spite of complaints by some traders of not being able to secure shops up till the moment of filing this report.