₦airaland Forum

Traders Protest Over Death of Member in Ariaria Re-modelled Shop Dispute

Some Traders from the A-Line section of Ariaria International Market in Aba staged a protest over the tragic death of their colleague, Ikem Uchendu.

Uchendu, succumbed to injuries after reportedly being stabbed with a bottle during an altercation. He was hospitalized for days before passing away.

The traders allege that the attack was carried out by individuals sent by the developer handling the market's remodeling, Blessed Henken International Limited.

According to the protesters, Uchendu was targeted for reclaiming his lock-up shop, which had allegedly been reassigned to other individuals.

In their demonstration, the traders demanded government intervention to deliver justice for Uchendu’s family, end what they describe as ceaseless harassment in the market, and ensure that displaced shop owners regain their properties.

The protest adds to an ongoing conflict between the traders and Blessed Henken International Limited, which they accuse of disregarding directives from the Abia State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the recovery of government properties, funds, and related matters.

The affected traders had previously petitioned the state governor, alleging that shops in the remodeled buildings were being sold to wealthy buyers instead of being offered to the original owners, as stipulated in the MoU.

While the developer has denied the allegations, the traders insist that the current state of affairs has not only deprived them of their livelihoods but also created tension and unrest within the market.

NO SHOP OWNER WILL LOSE HIS/HER SHOP IN THE ONGOING REMODELING OF ARIARIA INTERNATIONAL MARKET, EKEOHA MARKET AND OTHERS, GOVERNOR OTTI ASSURES.

Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has assured that no shop owner in the A-line section of the Ariaria International Market and Ekeoha Market undergoing remodeling will lose his/her shop when the shops will be reallocated on completion.

The Governor gave the assurance on Wednesday Nov. 5th, when he received in audience a delegation of the National Association of Nigeria Traders (NANs) in his office. According to Governor Otti, every shop owner should be given right of first refusal before reallocating their shops to other people. He warned that whoever is not entitled to a shop that goes ahead to buy the remodeled shops would lose their money, saying that he has given the contractor clear instruction that the original owners of the remodeled shops must be considered first.

“On the issue of shops, we have taken note of the revelation you gave us and we are going to look into them. We inherited that reconstruction of A-line. But I have given clear instructions that those who own shops must have first right of refusal.

“If you own a shop, if you don’t get it, it is because you don’t want it. So, those fears are no longer tenable. I heard that that’s what happened before we came but we have since changed it. We have communicated the traders to say, if you have evidence that you owned a shop, every allocation they have done, we will cancelled them".

“We say allocation will happen only after the owners of the shops originally have been given shops. That is the instruction,” the Governor stated.

The Governor directed his Technical Assistant to work with the Commissioner for Trade and Special Adviser on Trade to ensure that his instructions are fully carried out.

Speaking further, Governor Otti said that although it is not the responsibility of the Government to determine the price of those shops, he has designed means for the original owners who may not afford the price of the remodeled shops to get loans from bank to augment the amount they have to get their shops back. He stated that the banks will keep the title documents and the owners will get them back once they liquidate their loans from the bank.

“And, I even did one more thing, I said in the unlikely event there are people who don’t have money to pay for the shop, that we will arrange a bank loan for them. I have already spoken to 2 banks. It’s not for me to determine how much the shop would be but I heard it’s about 10 million. Assuming it is 10 million and you have only 5 million, the bank will provide 5 million and hold on to the title document until you pay back the bank and collect your title document. In so far as am here, that’s what will happen”, Governor Otti assured.

He said the same thing is applicable to Ekeoha Shopping Center currently undergoing remodeling being done in phases and any other market to be remodeled, stating that everybody should be treated fairly and equally.

On the issue of payments of 18,000 yearly levy in the market, Governor Otti said that what the Government did was to change the system so that all payments would go straight to the bank account of Abia State Government. He explained that anyone not getting alert after payment, the fault may be from the Bank. The Governor however assured that something will be done to ensure that there is no system failure anywhere.

On their request to honour him with a civic reception and an award, the Governor declined, maintaining his decision not to accept any awarded while in office as he clearly stated in his inaugural speech.

The delegation from the National Association of Nigerian Traders left happily as their fears and concerns were adequately allayed by the Governor.

Ctz. UKOHA NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
07-11-2024.

Brenbentondiaz:
"Sent by developer". As in, who are those at Ariaria market if not developers?

Okonsbecky:
How which is ipob that killed una for protest, igbo too mumu

Okonsbecky:
How which is ipob that killed una for protest, igbo too mumu

muykem:
No cause for alarm since it's igbo that killed igbo, Peter Obi will not address press conference.

Okonsbecky:
How which is ipob that killed una for protest, igbo too mumu

Okonsbecky:
How which is ipob that killed una for protest, igbo too mumu

jmoore:
The statement below by the governor is not good enough.

Why should the original shop owners buy the shops back at same price as new shop owners?

He said government can't determine the pricing but it was the government that demolished the shops.

The building was 1st floor when it was demolished. The developer didn't buy land. The developer has added a second floor, which means additional profit. Original shop owners have been without shop for 3 years with no compensation. 3 years of no income and you want them to pay 10 million naira to buy back their shops.

Whoever is advising Otti on this is deceiving him.



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004gist:
The governor has tried. He said he has made arrangements with the banks to ensure they provide funds to those who previously owned the shop. If they provide 50% then bank 50%.

Lastly he said it was an inherited project. Meaning there is an already an agreement on ground before he came