Creek Road Market Leader Clears Air On Trading

The abandoned Creek
Road construction project in Port Harcourt metropolis is responsible for the occupation of the road by traders.
The chairman of Creek Road Market Traders Association, Hon. Gloria Nonju, dropped  the hint in a telephone chat with our correspondent yesterday while reacting to insinuation that commercial bus drivers have to divert to Bonny Street due to the activities of the traders in the market.
Nonju said the law abiding traders only took advantage of the abandoned Creek  Road re-construction project by the company to sell their wares on the road, and are ever ready to vacate the road whenever the company wants to start the project.
The chairman explained that the traders occupied the road temporarily with the feeling that any time the construction company is ready to start the project, they would go back to their sheds, but that they are occupying the road pending when the contracting firm would give them order to vacate.
“If government or the company in-charge of the construction of the Creek Road project comes and opens the entrance of the road for their re-construction, we the traders will vacate the road as we are also affected by the diversion of vehicles especially commercial buses to Bonny Street”, she lamented.
The trader also disclosed that the taskforce on road decongestion by the Rivers State government is not operating in the area since the road was closed to motorists by the construction firm some years ago, adding that they are ready to vacate as soon as the contractors come to site.
On the illegal Aba line market along Bonny Street, she said it is an eyesore, but could not do anything because her office as chairman, Creek Road market traders association does not extend to those areas.
“Aba line is irrelevant and I have said it severally on media. They should leave the street as they cause traffic hold-up along the area. Let them go and fix themselves at  New Layout Market, Mile One market and other approved markets in the state rather than cause nuisance on the road,” Nonju reiterated.
According to her, all peace loving people of Rivers State should insist on relocating the market called “Aba Line at Bonny Street, in order to avoid problems tomorrow, while also ensuring the safety at lives and property from speedy drivers.

Collins Barasimeye