RSG Assures Fairness In Mile I Market Stalls Allocation

The Rivers Sate Government has said that the allocation of stalls at the newly reconstructed Mile I Market will not be based on tribal sentiments.

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi gave the assurance during the 2010 Ikwerre Traders Agricultural Exhibition credibility Award in Port Harcourt.

Represented by the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Emmanuel Chinda, the state governor said that a committee to interface with traders with a view to working out modalities for the allocation had already been set up by the government.

While stressing that work would also start on the Phase II of the market, the governor urged the traders to avail themselves of the loan facilities being provided by the Rivers State Micro-Finance Agency (RIMA) to expand their businesses.

On the issue of Risonpalm, he said the government was working out modalities to involve the private sector in the running and management of the company and commended the traders for coming together to protect themselves.

Speaking, the chairman of Ikwerre Traders Association, organiser of the exhibition, Deacon Kenneth Eze, said that the association was formed to unite Ikwerre traders as well as restore the pride of Ikwerre people within and outside.

Deacon Eze further said that the association had trained and empowered a number of Ikwerre sons and daughters on vocational skills while many Ikwerre sons and daughters had been awarded scholarships.

He said that the awards were aimed at spurring Ikwerre sons and daughters to excellence in their various fields of endeavour.