Anambra State government has directed shop owners at Uwakwe Ukaegbu International Building Market, Umuokpu to go and reclaim their abandoned shops or have their papers revoked.
The Commissioner for Trade, Markets and Wealth Creation, Dr. Christian Madubuko gave the directive, when he paid a one day working visit to the market popularly known as “Umuokpu Timber Shed”.
The Commissioner was taken round the market premises with most of the shops looking very old and abandoned.
Sections visited include the iron section, cement section, timber section and plumbing section among others, most of which are abandoned and overrun by bush.
Dr Madubuko who said that Anambra state House of Assembly had passed a law directing building material dealers occupying different shops at Arthur Eze Avenue to vacate which is yet to be complied with, added that government is deeply interested in activities and transformation of over one hundred markets in the state.
The Commissioner who said that government will embark on reconstruction works in the market based on the existing tripartite
arrangement between them and the government, nineteen years ago, stated that he will take back his findings to the Governor for necessary actions.
Concerning the issue of prayers in markets, the Commissioner
reiterated that government only approved a unanimous agreement by all
market leaders in the state, that prayers should be conducted once a month, adding that people are free to pray in their homes and shops.
While appreciating the Commissioner for paying a visit to their
market, the President General of Uwakwe Ukaegbu International Building Market, Umuokpu, Chief Edison Nwankwo, said that they had previously submitted papers to State government concerning their plight and expressed the hope of immediate intervention.
Chief Ndubuisi Igwebuike, one of the Section Chairmen of the market recalled when government asked them to vacate Arthur Eze Avenue which most of them complied with , but wondered why some people stayed behind, noting that a lot of shops in the market are abandoned, which he said explains the dilapidated state of most parts of the market.
The Commissioner later laid the foundation stone for the construction of Uwakwe Ukaegbu International building market hall and office complex.
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