According to the Abia State Ministry of Trade and Investment, its attention has been drawn to an orchestrated protest at Ariaria International Market Aba by some politically sponsored individuals masquerading as traders.
According to the report, the development has resulted in the alleged destruction of some construction equipment used to ensure the proper remodeling of A-line in order to prevent the market from flooding and to provide modern market infrastructure.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the State Commissioner of Trade and Investment, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, against the backdrop of the protest, he stated that the government has deployed security agents to the market to protect the lives and property of traders and workers of the designated developers, as well as to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators and their sponsors, regardless of their position, and vowed that the government will not stand by while a few individuals profit
While the government has no tool at the moment to prevent torrential rains from falling in any part of the state, including the Ariaria International Market area, the Ministry stated that “we have consistently taken measures to ensure that traders do not suffer unduly as a result of the forecast floods ravaging both the country and the entire world.”
According to the Abia Ministry, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has approved the immediate relocation of traders in the A-D zones of the A-line to available shops in the A block zone, so safe zone, and Ochendo zone in Ariaria International Market for temporary accommodations without any fees pending the completion of the ongoing work.
“The executive of the Ariaria Market Committee, as well as security agents, are to supervise this immediate relocation exercise in order to avoid further damage to goods, as well as the risk of collapse of some structures within the affected zones.”
The Ministry also stated that the state government made the decision after careful consideration of the current flooding situation throughout the country, affected areas in Ariaria, and the current forecast by Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) and Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) advising further flood preparations.
“While we acknowledge that the developer has begun construction on the newly proposed culvert, we urge that they complete the work within the two weeks allotted for it, as well as investigate the opening of other channels that can help evacuate storm water out of the market after every rainfall.”
It also revealed that the state government has begun implementing the 2-year tax waivers recently granted to traders affected by the ongoing reconstruction work along A-line, and that Governor Ikpeazu’s approval had been fully conveyed to Abia State Internal Service (AIRS), and that the state ministry of trade and investment is currently working with Ariaria Market executives to complete the verification and issuance of relevant documents to affected traders.