Orji to Relocate 78-year Umuahia Market

Emmanuel Ugwu with agency report
Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji has declared that he was set to break a 78-year old jinx by relocating the Umuahia Main Market to a more spacious and conducive area.
The relocation of the market, the governor said was to allow for the expansion and beautification of Umuahia, the state capital.

He gave the assurance after inspecting the progress of work on the new market located at Ubani Ibeku area of the capital saying that the September 30 deadline for the relocation was still on course.

He said the traders “are very enthusiastic” about the change. “It is very feasible,” adding that the plan to relocate the main market started in 1935 during the colonial era but that no government had summoned the political will to effect the relocation due to the hostility of the traders each time the relocation was contemplated.

However, Orji said that he made an electoral promise to relocate the market and has backed his promise with the needed political will hence the construction of the new market, comprising over 7, 000 lock up shops.

“I’m sure the people will be better for it. You will see the beauty of a state capital, Orji said, adding: “I’ll feel fulfilled once they (traders) move into this place”.

The governor said that no effort has been spared to make the condition in the modern Umuahia market very good for traders, as provisions were made for adequate water supply, fire station, banks, hospital, school, among other amenities. He also said that a lot of concessions have been made to the traders hence “they have no reason to complain” as the cost of acquiring a shop has been reduced.

Orji explained that payment for the allocation form has been reduced to N20,000, while allocation fee was pegged at N100, 000. After the relocation each trader would be required to pay N300, 000, which would be spread over four years, before they could take full ownership of their shops.

He said new traders, who did not have shops in the old market would pay N100,000 higher. “What government has in mind is not to make money. Money would come to government in the long run,” he said.

Meanwhile, the traders have said they were recording cases of stealing and shop breaking at Umuahia main market, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Correspondent who monitored situation at the market on Friday gathered that because of the nearness of the relocation date, traders refused to pay the monthly security fee.

NAN learnt that the situation forced the security outfit securing the market to withdraw their services.

When contacted, the Chairman of Umuahia Main Market Amalgamated Traders Association (UMATS), Mr. Onyebuchi Ejidike, confirmed the reports of stealing at the market.
“Some traders actually reported that their goods were stolen as some whose shops were located along the railway line pulled-out their doors while packing out.
“Because of these rampant movements of traders out of the market, no one could predict what goes on in the market at night,” he said.

A trader who gave her name as Monica Mba told NAN that she lost three bags of stock fish worth more than N500, 000 following the breaking of her shop by criminals the previous night.
Another trader Onwuka Ikoh, who sold beverages said, “Criminals equally broke into my shop and carted undisclosed amount of goods.”

NAN recalled that Abia state government had fixed Sept.30, as the deadline for traders at Umuahia main market to relocate to Ubani-Ibeku.

This is in spite of the delay in the allocation of shops to prospective owner at the new market.
Ubani Ibeku is a community sharing boundary with Uzuakoli in Bende Local Government Area and it is about 10 kilometres to Umuahia.

Traders at Umuahia main market have been divided over their relocation to Ubani-Ibeku as some prefer to relocate to Onuimo, another market located in Obowo, a boundary community between Imo and Abia.

The finishing in the building of that market looks very poor. The roads look quite shabby.

I hope the pictures were taken prior to the completion of the project.

No comment and e dey front page?
Lmao at mods
good development by Orji, I'm shocked.

Black Peni5: .

damn you man you quickly typed . Just so you won't loose that spot.
*points a gun on his head*
vacate that position sharperly

Black Peni5: The finishing in the building of that market looks very poor. The roads look quite shabby.

I hope the pictures were taken prior to the completion of the project.

True. I'm disappointed in Orji. Abia is too rich they can afford a better looking shop.
We had better stop settling for mediocrity abeg! It's annoying.
Those things won't stay for 3 years then they will start looking like shops built in the 20s

Seun how much did you receive for this to be on front page?

The market is even older than Nigeria @ 53

Development I guess?

If there is an award for cluelessness,T A Orji will win it year to year.Abians,accept my sympathy.

That's a good move. It is a replica of what Gov. Mimiko has being doing in Ondo State now.

As long as the market remains in Umuahia cos what's the use of calling a city Umuahia without the "Ahia". It will then become "Umu City".

This is transformation abi? shabby looking shops, poor quality, uncompleted. Imagine each of these units are sold for more than 400k. The main aim of this cluesless retardeen is to milk abia in every way possible. There is no manner of tax that is not paid in abia. Abia still remains the only state that pay infrastructural levy for government to build road for them. And what do we have to show for it? Swimming pools on every road. He only embarked on this shop constructions so he can sell the units and make more money from it. The next shopping unit to be relocated is the famous Ariaria Aba market. Na only God go punish this ReTArdeen.

Rubbish

Okija_juju: Rubbish

Same thing i was about saying. Imagine these shabby shops are sold for more than 400k. This crook is all about milking money from abia in what ever way possible. I hear the next market his is about relocating is the famous Ariria Aba market.

That is my state, the Government should do more. But bether then then previous government. The present type of leaders are all money making Class leader in my state. God give us an intellectual according to Plato. As a Governor in Abia its very backword.

Gud governor i hail

Fresh breeze. Plsm what is obesity?

Fresh breeze. Pls. what is obesity?

Clueless governor.

He is only concerned with market affairs. Never any development on economic and social infrastructure in the state.

Market man

Moni tins plenty

pDude: Clueless governor.

He is only concerned with market affairs. Never any development on economic and social infrastructure in the state.

Market man

Do you know what Umuahia means at all?

chrisair101: That is my state, the Government should do more. But bether then then previous government. The present type of leaders are all money making Class leader in my state. God give us an intellectual according to Plato. As a Governor in Abia its very backword.

Dude, do you even reason before you type? why did you think TA built shopping units and not roads? So he can sell the units and make a profit. simple. He is all about making more money from abia and not abians welfare. Think before you type please. I know he pays you, but you can at least do better.

chiomen:
Orji to Relocate 78-year Umuahia Market

Emmanuel Ugwu with agency report
Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji has declared that he was set to break a 78-year old jinx by relocating the Umuahia Main Market to a more spacious and conducive area.
The relocation of the market, the governor said was to allow for the expansion and beautification of Umuahia, the state capital.

He gave the assurance after inspecting the progress of work on the new market located at Ubani Ibeku area of the capital saying that the September 30 deadline for the relocation was still on course.

He said the traders “are very enthusiastic” about the change. “It is very feasible,” adding that the plan to relocate the main market started in 1935 during the colonial era but that no government had summoned the political will to effect the relocation due to the hostility of the traders each time the relocation was contemplated.

However, Orji said that he made an electoral promise to relocate the market and has backed his promise with the needed political will hence the construction of the new market, comprising over 7, 000 lock up shops.

“I’m sure the people will be better for it. You will see the beauty of a state capital, Orji said, adding: “I’ll feel fulfilled once they (traders) move into this place”.

The governor said that no effort has been spared to make the condition in the modern Umuahia market very good for traders, as provisions were made for adequate water supply, fire station, banks, hospital, school, among other amenities. He also said that a lot of concessions have been made to the traders hence “they have no reason to complain” as the cost of acquiring a shop has been reduced.

Orji explained that payment for the allocation form has been reduced to N20,000, while allocation fee was pegged at N100, 000. After the relocation each trader would be required to pay N300, 000, which would be spread over four years, before they could take full ownership of their shops.

He said new traders, who did not have shops in the old market would pay N100,000 higher. “What government has in mind is not to make money. Money would come to government in the long run,” he said.

Meanwhile, the traders have said they were recording cases of stealing and shop breaking at Umuahia main market, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Correspondent who monitored situation at the market on Friday gathered that because of the nearness of the relocation date, traders refused to pay the monthly security fee.

NAN learnt that the situation forced the security outfit securing the market to withdraw their services.

When contacted, the Chairman of Umuahia Main Market Amalgamated Traders Association (UMATS), Mr. Onyebuchi Ejidike, confirmed the reports of stealing at the market.
“Some traders actually reported that their goods were stolen as some whose shops were located along the railway line pulled-out their doors while packing out.
“Because of these rampant movements of traders out of the market, no one could predict what goes on in the market at night,” he said.

A trader who gave her name as Monica Mba told NAN that she lost three bags of stock fish worth more than N500, 000 following the breaking of her shop by criminals the previous night.
Another trader Onwuka Ikoh, who sold beverages said, “Criminals equally broke into my shop and carted undisclosed amount of goods.”

NAN recalled that Abia state government had fixed Sept.30, as the deadline for traders at Umuahia main market to relocate to Ubani-Ibeku.

This is in spite of the delay in the allocation of shops to prospective owner at the new market.
Ubani Ibeku is a community sharing boundary with Uzuakoli in Bende Local Government Area and it is about 10 kilometres to Umuahia.

Traders at Umuahia main market have been divided over their relocation to Ubani-Ibeku as some prefer to relocate to Onuimo, another market located in Obowo, a boundary community between Imo and Abia.

This guy is a TA paid stooge. check all his post. Chiomen, how much did he pay you please? did you even take a look on the shops you are bragging with? The more you think you are 'washing' you employer image, the more you are bashing it.

Ekans: If there is an award for cluelessness,T A Orji will win it year to year.Abians,accept my sympathy.

u r very much on point, am an Abian but d truth must be told. Abia sucks!!! What d idiot (T.A Orji ) has. succeeded in doing is to take Abia to lower level rather than higher level.

It is only in Abia u see cement being used to repair roads and black paint used to to colour it so it could look like coal-tar

iam highly disappointed in dis abia governor for building dis shabby lukin huts mkt in dis 21ist century..even ogbete main mkt in enugu built abt 38yrs ago is better than dis..looters!!!!