The Dr. Alex Otti led government of Abia State has assured displaced Ariaria A-Line traders of government commitment to ensure that every trader living in Abia State gets a decent place to do business.
This assurance was made by the Hon. Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chimezie Isaac Ukaegbu during the ongoing tour of all the markets in Abia State.
The commissioner, who was received by a mammoth crowd assured the traders that the Dr. Alex Otti led government will not discriminate against any trader because of political affiliation.
“The administration of Dr. Alex Otti”, said the commissioner, “will not victimize any trader because of their political affiliation. Rather, we will ensure that all the traders have a conducive environment, which will boost their business and in turn incite them to pay taxes to the government with joy.”
Ariaria traders troop out to welcome the Hon. Commissioner.
Earlier, the commissioner went round the A-Line section of Ariaria, where he interacted with some traders who have been allotted some of the remodelled shops. The traders claimed they have documents to show that they were the rightful owners of the shops they were allotted.
In the spirit of fairness, Dr. Ukaegbu asked all the traders to submit a photocopy of their allocation papers to the Ariaria Market chairman for thorough verification.
While responding to a question by a trader, Dr. Ukaegbu assured the traders that no one will abandon his previous zone to claim a shop in another zone. Rather every trader will get a shop in his previous zone. He also told the traders that the government is aware that the previous shop owners have been asked to pay five million naira while new traders were asked to pay six million naira for the remodelled shops. The honourable commissioner, who reminded the traders that he too is a trader promised to discuss with the developers to ensure that justice and equity will prevail.
Part of the remodeled A-Line still under construction.
The Chairman of the Ariaria International market, Hon. Ozokwe Chikadibia thanked the commissioner for coming to see for himself the situation on ground and assured him of the traders’ unalloyed support to the government.
The Honourable Commissioner, who was accompanied by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Aba Renewal, Hon. Uche Ukeje, Director of Commerce in the Ministry, Mr. Mecha Udensi and other management staff of the ministry also visited the Enyimba Market as well as the Shoe, Bag and Leather Industrial Market, where the Hon. Commissioner visited the Mansion Block of the Powerline section of the market, which was gutted by fire few days ago, and consoled the affected traders and artisans assuring them that the Abia State government will not abandon them.
The energetic Hon. Commissioner concluded the first leg of his market tour at the Osisioma Ngwa Industrial Market, where he assured the traders, who complained of an attempt to hand over the market to an individual, that the government will look into their complain and assured them that Dr. Alex Otti is serious with the welfare of traders.
