Traders at the popular Oye-agu market Abagana, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, has threatened to barricade the state government house (Light House Awka), in protest against the government plan demolition of some structures in the market.
The traders lamented that the action, if not reconsider as planned, will put thousands of lives and livelihoods at risk.
They appeal to governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo to urgently intervene to avoid breakdown of law and order in the market, Abagana community and the council area at large.
Their plan protest was made known to Journalists at the market square, on Monday during a media tour to the market.
According to them, some of the marked shops are already allocated to some South Africa returnees amidst the ongoing xenophobia attacks.
Recall that the State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development headed by the pioneer Commissioner, Barrister Chijioke Oseloka Ojukwu had recently marked some shops for demolition, giving traders ultimatum to move out belongings.
According to the Commissioner, the present administration of governor Soludo is making efforts to bring new life into the market and the area as a whole in line with his vision of making Anambra a destination hub of Nigeria by 2070.
He expressed concern that traders had erected structures on walkways, above nine-meter away from the road and drainage channels without considering how such actions would obstruct the free movement of people and vehicles within the market.
Speaking on the development, a food vendor at the market, Miss Easther Udoh, lamented that the demolition of the structures, as proposed by the State government will throw thousands of families into frustration and untimely deaths if not reconsidered.
“I am appealing to our Solution governor to stopped the Ministry from it plan action so that majority of us in the market would not be sent begging in the streets.
“Demolishing of the structures would suddenly bring poor patronage to the market. The action is dangerous for now.
“We voted for Solution government and not a demolition government, we want the market to be equipped with modern facilities that would attract large patronage from far and near. You Journalists should help us begged the governor and the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development to reconsider us because, for me, it’s not the right time for this action couple with the socio-economic challenges everybody, especially, the less privilege ones are currently facing in Nigeria.
“I learnt most of those shops mark for demolition have been rented out to some South Africa returnees who are indigenes of Njikoka council area, so, demolishing the shops at this critical time is not a welcome development at all. The returnees may see it as another xenophobia attacked in their own land.
“Therefore, I am appealing to the government to suspend the action for now, the vendor advocated.
On his part, one of the market developer and the Managing Director of Ani Odogwu property limited, Hon Nkem Obidigbo, while expressing his disatisfaction over the plan action, called on the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development to tour the market properly for a comprehensive fact-finding before talking of demolition.
*It will not go down well with us and our means of livilihood if such action is taken indiscriminately. Before the demolition, we want the Honourable Commissioner to tour the market and see things for himself first before the action.
*90 percent structures in Oye-agu market have government approval from then, Anambra State Physical Planning Board, headed by Barrister Chike Maduekwe.
“I suggest, the newly appointed commissioner for Ministry Physical Planning and Urban Development should glass through the approved document of the market for proper guide.
“We will not be so happy, if the place we are surviving with our families is being demolished for any political reason or whatsoever without proper verification.
“As I speak, the situation has caused serious panic among traders in the market.
“Some of the marked shops build under Private-Public-Partnership (PPP), are not build illegally, they are situated in Anambra government approved places.
“We all voted for the governor’s reelection because we want Oye-agu market to function like Onitsha and Nnewi markets respectively.
“We want governor Soludo to take note of what is about to happen in Oye-agu market. “We are passionately appealing to him (the governor) to call and advise the Commissioner to step down the plan action and allow a roundtable discussion with all the relevant stakeholders involved.
“So, my concern is for the government to know the true fact about the market, Obidigbo noted.
In his reaction, the Executive Chairman of Njikoka local government area, Hon Barr Chinedu Dominic Ononiba, appealed to the traders to step down the plan protest, noting that negotiation is ongoing to address the issue amicably.
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