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Traders and other business owners at the popular Abakpa and Gariki markets in Enugu have commended Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State over his act of magnanimity which led to the extension of the time given to them to relocate after the original quit notice given to them in September 2023 expired in April 2024.
Recall that the state government, in a public service announcement and letters written by the Commissioner of Transportation, Dr. Obi Ozor, served traders occupying government-owned Enugu State Transport Company (ENTRACO) premises adjacent to Abakpa Market, and Gariki Motor Park also owned by the state government, notices of intention of government to recover premises in 2023.
Copies of the letters sighted by newsmen indicated that Enugu State Government owns the premises built for motor parks, which subsequently became market hubs for traders and passengers operating in the vicinities.
At the Market Road, also known as Holy Ghost Park, clearing and demolition of temporary structures commenced on 10th May after seven clear month notices were served on property and business owners, followed by compensations and provision of alternative temporary locations.
Speaking at Gariki Market on Saturday, a cosmetics trader, Mr. Monday Ndukwe, said they received notice from the state government informing them of the government’s proposed terminal stations and the need for traders in the premises to relocate as demolition would commence in April.
“First, we were invited by the state government on different occasions both at the Government House and at the Ministry of Transport where we were informed of the development. This happened sometime between September and October 2023. After that, they served us with notices and gave us six months grace. The notice expired in March 2024, but government didn’t come for the demolition, so we stayed back.
“Sometime in May 2024, the state government came again to remind us about the need to evacuate. So, we prepared our minds since the notice given to us had already expired. After that, we heard that they had started work at Holy Ghost and that they would also do the same thing at Abakpa and Gariki. You see that we had already removed all our belongings. However, government has not come. So we want to thank the governor for his patience and for extending the grace period,” Mr. Ndukwe added.
Narrating her preparedness for the development, a middle-aged woman who sells pampers and other children’s items, Ijeoma Egodi, said she was not in panic as she had already relocated to a shop opposite the park, stressing that traders welcomed the terminal station as a development that would boost the economy of the area.
At the park, a bus driver who shuttles to Akpugo, Okoh Nnam, said the governor had proved to be humane and friendly through the extension gesture of over a month after the notices served on them had expired in March.
“I want to thank Governor Peter Mbah and all his team for consulting with us and for giving us time to relocate to another good place. Even as I am talking to you now, we are all ready for the work to commence because the government has promised that we are all going to be beneficiaries of the development,” he added.
At Abakpa Market, the story was the same at the ENTRACO Park as most of the transport owners had already relocated to their new sites while traders in the premises had secured alternative shops and continued with their trading.
Addressing our correspondent, Mrs. Njideka Ogbodo, who sells utensils in one of the kiosks at the park, said she had secured a new shop that was better than the kiosk and hoped for a higher patronage.
“I’m almost done removing my goods because I have got a new shop. Come and see it. It’s more spacious and secure. I want to appreciate the governor for the time he gave us. We thought he would commence work in March but he decided to extend the time to enable us prepare ourselves,” she said.
A market leader at the Abakpa Market, Chief Igwesi Onyema, told our correspondent that they had been interfacing with the government for more time which led to the extension period of over one month.
“As you might have read in the news that government wanted to build a terminal station here, and had served everyone here with notices. We received it, and we held meetings amongst ourselves. We couldn’t meet the March deadline and we pleaded with the government to extend it by one month. That’s ending of April. Government yielded and it’s even getting to two months. Although we have all removed our belongings but we want to thank the governor for all the projects he is doing and for the terminal station. We are in support of it, and we will give all our support to see that everything goes well. Let me also thank him for the roads he is reconstructing here in Abakpa. We are happy with his administration,” he further noted.