Timber Sellers Want Ultra-modern Marketa

Timber Sellers Association in Oyigbo local government area of Rivers State has called on the state government and Oyigbo Council to help alleviate their sufferings by upgrading the market to an ultra-Modern one.

Chairman of the Association, Mr. Michael N. Okonkwo made the call on Friday while  speaking to The Tide in his office on the poor state of the market.

Mr. Okonkwo, who described the Timber Market in Oyigbo as a centre for distribution of all kinds of quality woods to all parts of the country and outside the nation, said “there is need for the state government to turn the Oyigbo timber market to international standard.”

Bringing the market to International Standard, the Association Chairman said, “would be of benefit to government in terms of revenue generation, which will boost the economy of the state.”

He pointed out that the Oyigbo Timber Market has for long been recommended as being among the three largest timber market in the country, but that the state of the markets does not tell much about it.

The market boss used the opportunity to call on Oyigbo council to assist them and the land lords Association of the area to construct the two timber roads in the Local Government Area.

Mr. Okonkwo, who lamented the poor condition of the roads, said “if there is nothing done on the roads  till the rainy season gets to its peak traders and residents may be forced to vacate the area due to flood.

He noted that the Association in collaboration with the land Lord- Association of the area have on several occasions done their best to ensure that the two roads are in usable condition to enhance business.

Okonkwo also used the forum to  call on the state police command to beef up security around Oyigbo-West and the market area, saying that the level of robbery operations in the past two months in the area had made many residents to relocate for safety.

On the relationship with Oyigbo council, Mr. Okonkwo said the Association has a cordial relationship with the council..

He commended the council’s chairman for having done a lot in terms of developmental projects in Oyigbo and its environs.

The Timber sellers boss denied the allegation that traders of the market do not observe the state government imposed sanitation, saying that in addition, exercise traders in the market also organize sanitation to clean-up the market.

Enoch Epelle