The government of Abia State has given traders plying their trades in some streets in the state two weeks to vacate the areas or face the action of the task force.
In a press statement issued by Chief Nwaka Inem, the Special Adviser to Abia Governor on Trade, Commerce and Industry, the government said the directive follows effort to sanitise the state and make it compatible with the new ABA and ABIA that the current administration promised.
The statement reads:
“It will be recalled that we have severally visited and appealed to traders plying their business on the streets beyond the shops and across gutters.
“Apart from the risks exposed to traders and other street users, it is not acceptable that free flow of traffic is hindered. The menace is not compatible with the new ABA and ABIA that the current Government of Dr. Alex Otti, OFR is building.
“Consequent upon that, traders are hereby advised to leave the streets within two weeks or face the actions of a taskforce mandated to keep the street free for necessary repairs and free flow of traffic.
“Specifically traders along the following streets are advised to comply, and operate within existing markets and malls all over Aba.
1. Kent Street market
2. Mosque Street market
3. Asa road
4. Jubilee road
5. Hospital road
6. Etche road market
7. Azikwe road market
8. Pound road market
9. Ehi road market
10.Cameroon road market
11.Market road market
Reacting, a resident of Aba, Peter Agba Kalu commended the action of the government, saying that this is in line with the positive revolution being witnessed in Abia State.
Kalu added that “the Alex Otti government wants to transform Aba into one of the most advanced cities in Nigeria in particular, and Africa in general. The Abia State government has started taking steps to reform the city and return it to its past glory.
“This cannot be achieved without an organized and efficient system and the idea of blocking major streets to trade is causing not only serious traffic challenges, but it is also giving the city a dirty look. This type of view scares would-be business tourists, which is what Aba is known for.
“With the arrival of Julius Berger in Aba to start work Alex Otti has shown serious commitment towards transforming Aba.
“In line with Chief Nwaka Inem the Special Adviser to the governor on Trade, Commerce & Industry has called on all street traders across Kent, Mosque, Asa, Jubilee, Hospital, Etche, Azikiwe, Pound, Ehi, Cameroon, and Market Roads to organize themselves and chose any of the existing mega markets in Aba and start doing their trade from there. For instance, the Enyimba Shopping Mall & Outlets is very much available and it was built using the same International standards you can get anywhere in the world.
