Abia govt sympathises with Ariaria traders over loss of goods to flood

By Godfrey Ofurum, in Aba

…intensifies market flood control project

The Abia State government has expressed sympathy to traders at the Ariaria International Market who were affected by the recent flooding in the market.

The flood, occasioned by heavy rains that hit Aba in the past few days, destroyed goods of some traders in the market which has been undergoing reconstruction and remodelling since late last year. The aim of the remodelling, being carried out by the Abia State government, is to deal with the perennial flooding challenges experienced by traders since the inception of the market.   

The state government has also commenced the excavation and construction of a new tunnel meant to push flood from within the market and its environs.

John Okiyi-Kalu, the state’s commissioner for Trade and Investment, said that the 2-metre width tunnel will go across Faulks Road from A-line to channel stormwater from the construction area to Aba River, through Faulks/Osusu Road drainage way.

According to Kalu, the developer of the market, Blessed Henken International Company Limited, will in extension include the connection of the wide drains to the Ifeobara area, to provide an alternative channel for the gradient flow of stormwater to the natural collection points at Aba River in the ongoing reconstruction project at Omuma Road.

Kalu said that the state government has approved two-year tax waiver for all the traders affected by the ongoing remodelling of A-line within the Ariaria International Market, including exemption from payment of revenues collected by state and local government agents in the market.

He said market committee, project monitoring team and Ministry of Trade and Investment officials would embark on the “immediate assessment and evaluation of the extent of damage done to goods of affected traders by the flooding with a view to recommending appropriate financial and other support from the government to them”.

“While the construction of high-quality shop structures in A-line will continue, we have mobilized needed resources to ensure that as soon as the rains abate, construction of A-line road and associated drains will commence and conclude within the coming dry season window,” he said.

Emeka Igara, chairman, Ariaria International Market, commended the Abia State government for intervening in the plight of traders.

Igara sympathized with his co-traders affected by the flood and stressed that it is to prevent such ugly occurrences that the state government intervened and began the remodelling of the market.

“This type of thing has been happening before this present government decided to put an end to it, by starting the rebuilding of the market. It is unfortunate, I sympathize with my fellow traders and I commend the government for all the efforts being taken to bring an end to the issue of flood in Ariaria,” Igara said.

He observed that the new buildings are of great standard, representing what a market should look like.

“I’m happy that the new buildings are of the best standard and are not the type anybody can mess up with. The new tunnel the contractor is building is an indication of the commitment of the government to check flooding in Ariaria and provide a more conducive environment for the traders and their patrons,” he stated.