Ariaria Remodelling Project Delights Traders as they Pledge to Support its Actualization

Traders at Ariaria International Market Aba, have expressed delight that remodeling the market to meet international standards will provide a conducive environment for them to do their businesses without fear of been overrun by flood.

The Treasurer and Chairman, Remodelling Work Sub Committee, Hyacinth Nnabude who stated in an interview with newsmen, noted that those whose shops are affected are looking forward to the remodelling process with open arms.

Nnabude disclosed that with the current arrangements reached with the Tripartite Committee comprising the state government, the traders and the Developer, no trader will loose his shop as they have the right of first refusal.

He also noted that in order to ensure that no trader is kept out of business during the remodelling process, alternative shops would be provided for affected traders.

A member of the committee, Prince Stanley Obazuo, commended the state government and the developer for their seriousness in the remodelling project, and urged those still working against the development of the market to join hands with them to realise the remodelling project.

“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 quite a lot of effort into getting the job done. This shows that the government is interested in the welfare of the people.

“We have a good working relationship with the developer and we have had meetings with him on two occasions and we told him about the perennial flooding issues that the traders have been facing” Meshach stated.

Other traders including Uche Ikechi, Eberechi Maduka, Uchenna Echeka and Mr. Uchenna Onyejiemeli, lamented the current terrible state of the market which include, leaking roofs, and flooding, pledging their full support to the developer to ensure that the dream of remodelling is achieved.

On his part, the Developer, Checkbest International Limited, Mr. Chiedozie Njoku said part of the agreement with the government is to provide alternative trading places for traders for the period of the remodelling process.

Mr. Njoku further explained that the right of first refusal would be given to the traders once the remodelling process is completed.

“No trader is going to lose his shop in Ariaria based on the agreement we have with the government,” Njoku said.

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

“Unlike in the past where some developments were not thought through thoroughly before the start of the traders had to lose not just their shops but sources of income and livelihood.

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

“And we’re also going to do the remodeling in phases so that not all the traders or all the sections of the market that we have been giving will be affected at the same time.”