Traders Hail Commission Of New Market

Traders in Mile One Market in Rumuwoji Community of Port Harcourt have expressed happiness over the commissioning of the market, and have lauded Governor Chibuike Amaechi for listening to their demand.

Some of the traders who were specifically basking in the joy of making into the new market building, have said that the development is a dream that has come true, inspite of numerous delays and obstacles recorded along the line.

In his reaction to the new market building commissioning, a trader in the market, Chief Nta Chioma said the issue of traders moving into the new market building was like the story of the tortoise and the pregnant woman, where tortoise vowed to kill the pregnant person on a market day, but at last when the market day came, that tortoise could not go to the market, but the pregnant person died, and it was said that the tortoise was responsible for the death.

According to him, so many things had taken place in the process of building and commissioning  the new Mile One market which attracted various negative comments, reactions and discouragement to traders, but thanked God that the long awaited commissioning has now taken place.

He therefore commended the efforts of the governor in ensuring that the interest of traders is considered which has tended to the commissioning of the project.

Also reacting to the project commissioning, the former Caretaker Chairman of the Mile One Market Traders Association (MOMTA) Mr Daniel Iheme said that the programme is a welcomed development, but that some issues on the management of the market have not been addressed.

Iheme explained that the commissioning of the market ought to have addressed the issue of market management in terms of facilities and infrastructure and whether it is the local government council or the market union that will oversee these things.

He also expressed worries over the absence of the Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government at the commissioning ceremony which to him does not speak well for the market.

The governor, who was represented at the commissioning ceremony by the Secretary to State Government, Mr George Feyi had said that his administration was committed to completing all vital projects in the state. Whether or not they were initiated by the present administration.

The Commissioner of Works, Mr V. Giadom had said last month that he will resign, if the market was not ready at first week of  May 2012.

Corlins Walter