By EMMA ELEKWA, Onitsha
Traders at the Patent Medicine Dealers Market, Bridge Head popularly known as Ogbor ogwu in Onitsha, Anambra state have protested alleged forceful relocation of their shops to Oba market against their choice.
The protesters alleged that the area prone to flood was leased by the former chairman of the market Mr. Uche Eze with a 2-year expiration period.
Addressing newsmen on Friday, immediate past chairman of the market, Hon. Chikeluo Ezioba accused his predecessor of conniving with some top government agents to lease the market.
He said the traders had secured a location along the Onitsha/Enugu expressway for the development of their permanent site but were being distracted by actions of certain individuals.
He said, “How can these government officials be forcing traders against their will? We’ve met with the Secretary to the State Government and agreed that traders should be allowed to buy and build shops where they like.
“Why should they be reneging on that accord? What’s their interest in the game? We can’t do what our people did not approve.”
When contacted, Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Hon. Uche Okafor assured that his Ministry and others involved had been interfacing on resolving the issues.
“The state government treats the markets as another tier of government and cannot do anything against the general interest of the traders,” he said. (The Nation)
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