Business
Mile 1 Market Traders Skeptical Of Govt Reassurances
The Mile One Market Traders Association (MOMTA) has again reacted to a recent government advertorial calling on interested members of the public to purchase forms for the allocation of stalls at the newly completed portions of the market.
In a statement signed by the chairman, Mr Daniel Iheme and the secretary, Mr Uche Marvelous said the development is a source of concern to the traders given the much repeated assurance and declaration by the Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi that the completed stores would be re-allocated to only traders that were displaced by the construction.
According to the statement, the sale of forms to the public without consulting the over 5,000 displaced traders who were moved to temporary make-shift sites to pave way for the reconstruction of the market is capable of generating ill-feelings of deprivation, ethnic sentiments and confusion, adding that the move was contrary to the initial open assurance by the Governor that non of them would be displaced after the construction and that politician would not be allowed to hijack the allocation.
It also stated that sale of forms to the public rather than the traders first would be hijacked by politicians and non traders, thereby further compounding the problems of the original traders and skyrocketing of prices of goods in the market.
On the claim that the number of displaced traders in the market is about 800, the body said is totally not true, stressing that the population of traders in the market, including traders at its free zone are over 5,000, and that the situation would be more grave as government is clamping down on street hawkers.
They therefore called on the Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to urgently step into the matter and reassure the traders that his words could be his bond, while pledging their total loyalty to the administration.
“We have seen the assurance by the Commissioner for Urban Development, Mr. Osima Gina and that assurance does not erase the fears of the traders, as we also disagree with the estimate of the traders’ population which he said is between 700 and 800,” the statement further said, calling on him to come and physically prove that the completed stalls are 1,000.
Corlins Barasimeye
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.
