Ekeoha Shopping Center: Traders Fault Shop Allocation Method

By: Chuks Ogbu

A section of the traders at the popular Ekeoha Market in Aba, under the aegis of Concerned Ekeoha traders (CET), have expressed serious concerns over the mode and process of the remodeling and re-allocation of the shops to the traders.

Speaking on the sidelines of an inspection led by the Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Mr. Kingsley Nwokocha alongside Chief Nwaka Inem who is the Special Adviser to the governor of trade and Commerce, Chief Barth Azubuike Nwabekee, a member of Concern Ekeoha Traders expressed displeasure over the process of re-allocating the shops and the N10 million price tag for each of the shops.

He frowned at the standard of the work done in the market while expressing concern why the original shop owners in the market were not given preferential treatment

In his words, “When the remodeling of the market was flagged off we all thought it was going to be for the betterment of the traders but the reverse has become the case”.

He is of the opinion that the original shop owners should be given first choice before new entrants while calling for improvement on the standards.

“Firstly, the shops are below standard, the standard needs to be improved upon. Secondly, after completion, the original owners should be given first choice consideration and the outrageous sum of ten million naira (N10,000,000), which they have pegged as the amount for re-allocating of shops should be reviewed”.

“Sometime ago we took our complaints to the chairman of the market, Mr Emeka Okeke but he bluntly told us that they have already started selling the shops to new owners since last year.”

“Gov. Otti has built a good name for himself and it would be a thing of shame he allows his reputation and good name to be sacrificed on the altar of the remodeling of Ekeoha Market”, he added.

Also speaking, a widow, Mrs Victoria Chinyere Ndubuisi who is one the affected traders, said she has been frustrated by the way the whole market remodeling process has been going.

“I am very disappointed with this whole process. The governor promised the traders during the flag off of the remodeling of the market that the original owners of the shops would be returned to their shops without hassles but the reverse has become the case. Where do they expect the poor and the helpless individuals like me to get the sum of N10 million to take back our shops? It’s been so frustrating.”

Mrs Ndubuisi called on the governor, Dr Alex Chioma Otti to review the whole remodeling process at Ekeoha Market.

The traders expressed hope that the governor would listen to the cries of the poor masses and review the process for the good of the traders and all Abians.

Recall that in August 2024, Abia State Government, led by Dr Alex Chioma Otti, flagged off the remodeling and reconstruction of the popular Ekeoha Shopping Center, Aba.