Traders in Ogbaru Relief Market have called on the State government to intervene on the on-going illegal erection of shops on the drainage channel in the Market.
They made the call during a peaceful protest they staged.
The traders were seen with placards of different inscriptions such as ‘Ogbaru Relief Market is building shops on top of drainage system, Government please come to our aid”, “flood will kill us in this Market”, among others
The women matched through the major lines of the Market, calling for State Government’s attention in addressing the issue.
Speaking to the ABS, in a telephone conversation, the President Ogbaru Relief Market, Chief Ndubisi Ochuogu explained that the construction of the illegal shops which commenced during the yuletide was embarked upon by the immediate Past Chairman of the Market, Chief Victor Nwawuzie
Chief Ochuogu called on the State Government to address the ugly situation, which according to him will wreak havoc and affect the Market in view of the challenges of flooding in the area.
A former Financial Secretary of the Market Mr Emeka Epeh narrated their ugly experiences from flood.
A stakeholder Mr. Igwe Obodo recalled that the past administration in the State paid to compensate the original shop owners after demolishing their shops for easy flow of flood, adding that the drainage collects flood from Nkpor, Obosi, Awada and Obodo-ukwu which runs through Onitsha-Asaba express road through Bridge Head down to River Niger.
Other stakeholders who spoke to the ABS including Mrs Ojiugo Onaikem and Mrs Francisca Alisigwe recounted damages, due to volume of flood in the area and called on the State Government to take necessary action in alleviating the plights of the traders.
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