Otti promises to remodel burnt Eziukwu market
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Abia state Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has promised to remodel the Eziukwu Market in Aba recently gutted by fire will be remodeled and retrofitted to a status befitting of a modern market.
Governor Otti made the promise when he embarked an on-the-spot-assessment of the market to ascertain the extent of damage caused by the fire outbreak at the market. He said the Eziukwu Market would be remodeled and retrofitted to a status befitting of a modern market.
To this end, he has directed relevant government authorities to immediately commence work on how to modernize the market.
According to the Governor, many of the shops were in deplorable state and needed some modernization and renovation as the integrity of most of the shops were questionable.
“If you look at these shops, you’ll agree with me that a lot of them need some modernization, some renovation. Some of them need to be pulled down and rebuilt. Just like I promised to do in Ngwa Road, I also will do here. “If you look at these shops, you’ll see that the integrity is questionable. It looks like something that would collapse very soon. As a responsible government, we would not allow it to happen.
“So, I want to direct relevant authorities including the Director-General, Greater Aba Development Agency (GADA) to immediately start work on his own to modernize this market,” the Governor said.
He sympathized with victims of the inferno and promised to assist them overcome their plight.
He, however, charged the traders to be more careful to avoid further fire disaster at the market, noting that similar incident occurred last week at the Ngwa Road market.
The Governor was accompanied on the visit by the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu, the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr Chaka Chukwumerije, and DG,Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA) Mr Uche Ukaeje among other government functionaries.
