The Dr. Alex Otti led administration in Abia State has assured traders in Ekeoha Shopping Centre Aba of its resolve to create a more conducive environment to enable their businesses to thrive.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu gave the assurance while on an on-the-spot assessment of the shop buildings collapse at the Ekeoha Shopping Centre Aba, along side the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Aba Rejuvenation, Mr. Uche Ukeje. He said the present administration in the state is committed to creating wealth for the citizenry, hence its interest in what happens in the markets.
Collapsed shops in Ekeoha Shopping Center
The Commissioner said, the market cannot pass the test of what a real market should be, adding that the structural integrity test of the buildings is suspect. He therefore said a total revamp of the market would be most desirable.
The State Information boss stated that Dr. Otti is a compassionate Governor, hence he not only commiserated with the affected traders in the market but sent a team for an on-the-stop assessment of the shop collapse and report to him, assuring that the government would do the needful after receiving the report. He advised the traders in the affected shops to stay clear of the shops as directed by the Governor to avoid danger.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Aba Rejuvenation, Mr. Uche Ukeje called on the market leaders to partner with the State government in bringing development to Aba and making the market habitable. He harped on the need for them to furnish government with necessary information and adequate data on the market including, the number of people affected by the sealing-off of the section of the market as result of the collapse shops among others while stressing the need for them to stay clear the danger zone.
Conducting the Governor’s team round the market, the Chairman, Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba, Mr. Emeka Okeke thanked Governor Alex Otti for his quick intervention and assured that the traders in the market would supply the needed information to enable government fix the market for them.
He also informed that the market has many other challenges which he listed to include; poor phone network, lack of electricity, congestion of the market due to too many structures built in the market, lack of good drainage system, issues of security among others.
