Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Thousands of traders of the Mile One, Rumuowoji Market in Port Harcourt City local Government area of Rivers State groan over the refusal of the state government to continue the reconstruction of the market after Governor Nyesom Wike laid a foundation stone seven months ago.
An investigation carried out showed that traders have been doing business under the sun and the rain despite the fanfare that attended the foundation stone laying ceremony for the rebuilding of phase 2 of the Market on March 7,2016 by Governor Wike.
Some of the traders spoken to lamented that since the market was gutted by fire they have been going through untold hardships worsened by the harassment from members of the task force set up by Rivers government and Port Harcourt City Council that constantly bully them and destroy their makeshift shops alleging that they obstruct traffic.
More than 100 shops mainly, makeshift structures, were burnt three years ago. The affected areas were illegal structures attached to the government approved plan of the market, which was rebuilt by Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s administration.
The areas include: Blocks 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the market mainly shops of foodstuffs and condiments and textile materials.
Two traders who gave their names as Messrs Ejike Okere and Elechi Owhonda lamented that their hopes were raised by Governor Wike that their shops would soon be rebuilt when he laid the foundation stone for the reconstruction March 7 this year.
Chinyere Igwe, Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning has assured that the Market will be rebuilt, but cautioned that it would be done under Public Pravite Partnership, PPP and because of that the partners and contractors have started mobilizing to site.