L-R: Assistant Controller-General of Prisons, Dr Ekpedeme Udom, Chairman, House Committee on Health, Rep. Ndudi Elumelu and representative of I-G, Mr Dauda Fakai, at the official launch of the Police Action Committee on Aids Strategic Plan Document in Abuja, recently.

With Christmas less than two weeks ahead, traders at Mile 3 market are cashing in on the popular event to secure spaces at various markets across the Port Harcourt metropolises.

Investigations carried out by our correspondent o at Bishop Okoye Street on Sunday indicate that traders were desperate for space.

Before now, most items displayed along the street were mainly edibles like fish, vegetables, fruits among others.

But recently, another colouration has been added to the market which has made it more chaotic. For a woman who simply gave her name as Titi and sells ice fish, the presence of a man who sell ballons and other related children’s toys at her space was unacceptable.

According to her, she was surprised to see a young man occupying her space when she arrived for business after the close of church.

She said the man who claimed that he has paid for the space to a man he would not disclose she believed was lying.

On his part, the man who said his name was Michael told our correspondent that he actually paid a specific amount of money to a man who gave him the space just for the Christmas season.

According to him, he was not aware that, “mama” was original occupier of the space even as he said the matter would be settled amicably between them.

However, at Mile One market, the pedestrians’ right of way has been overtaken by traders.

Investigations by our correspondent show that items on display include stacked bags of rice, cartons of tin tomato, jerry can of groundnut oil, among others.

However, when reminded of the implications of their action to pedestrians, one of the traders who would not say his name said it was easier for the customers to buy along the road rather than wasting time inside the crowed  market.

“We know that it is not good but they are not complaining and they like buying here instead of going into the busy market”, he said.

But for the traders who have been selling on retail basis along the road over time, the development was telling on their sales.

According to Stella, who retails rice, “they all have shops inside and I don’t understand why they are blocking us so”, she lamented.