Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has commissioned the ultra-modern Ogbum-Nu-Abali Fruit Garden Market, which was razed down by fire last year.
Commissioning the project, on Tuesday, Governor Wike announced that the State Government will allocate shops to traders who owned shops in the market before it got burnt.
He said: “Let me assure all of you, that those who are traders here will get back their shops. We already have the names of these traders.
“We shall also allocate shops to the host community of Ogbum-nu-Abali. Thereafter, we shall ballot, if there are shops remaining “.
Governor Wike announced that henceforth, the market would be known and called “Ogbum-nu-Abali Fruit Garden Market to reflect the host community.
“We must begin to reflect the names of the communities where projects are allocated. This is important”, he said.
The Governor warned the traders against selling on the road. He said there are shops and spaces to accommodate all traders within the market.
He urged the traders to always pay their taxes because such taxes would be used to develop more projects for other residents of the state.
He recalled that the market was razed down during the campaign period. According to him, several political groups made promises, but only the Rivers State Government was able to redeem its pledge.
Governor Wike stated that fire fighting equipment would be installed in the market to forestall future occurrence of fire outbreak.
In a project description, Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Special Projects, Mr Sunday Okere said the new Ogbun-nu-Abali Market has four buildings (one storey each) and eight buildings (bungalow), designed to promote commercial activities. Other facilities in the market include: 232 Open Stalls, 72 Lock Up Shops, Toilet Blocks, car park, drainage, internal roads, a warehouse, generator, transformer, perimeter fence and a security house.
Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Victor Ihunwo said the Rivers State Governor lived up to his promise to the traders. He said that the market is the best of its kind.
“The Traders are celebrating the Market and Governor Wike who has kept his promise”, he said.
Chairman of the Ogbum-nu-Abali Fruit Garden Market Traders Association, Chigozie Nnolim expressed gratitude to the Rivers State Governor for delivering the Market to them.
The occasion witnessed Traditional Dances and Wrestling Exhibition Matches by women and host communities.
