Abia govt has abandoned us — Ubani Market traders cry out, seek Otti’s intervention

By Steve Oko UMUAHIA — Thirteen years after their relocation from the heart of Umuahia to Ubani Ultra-modern Market, thousands of traders are counting their losses, battling dwindling patronage and watching their businesses crumble as they accuse the Abia State Government of abandoning them. From collapsing shops overtaken by weeds to deplorable internal roads, heaps of refuse, poor sanitation and the absence of electricity, water and banking facilities, the once-bustling market has become a symbol of dashed hopes for traders who say their compliance with the government’s relocation order has left them economically stranded.

They are now appealing to Governor Alex Otti to urgently intervene before the market, which was conceived as the commercial hub of Umuahia, collapses completely. Their grievances go beyond decaying infrastructure. They include dwindling sales, the exodus of traders, alleged inconsistency in the enforcement of the market relocation policy, the burden of an annual ₦36,000 levy per shop and the absence of a promised alternative access road which traders say could reduce traffic congestion and road accidents.

The market, formerly known as Umuahia Daily Market, was relocated from the popular Isigate area of the city in 2013 during the administration of former Governor Theodore Orji. Its former site now houses the Umuahia Central Bus Terminal. When the market was moved to its present location, about seven kilometres from the city centre, between Umuahia and Uzuakoli in Bende Local Government Area, it initially attracted traders and customers in large numbers.

The government had justified the relocation as part of efforts to decongest Umuahia and spread development beyond the city centre. It then provided luxury buses to convey traders and customers to the new market at heavily subsidised rates, while shop owners at the old location were allocated land to construct new shops. With more than 10,000 lock-up shops, in addition to thousands of open stalls, the market initially enjoyed considerable patronage.

It also had facilities including a fire station, conveniences and security posts. But traders say the initial promise has gradually given way to neglect, with many businesses struggling to survive and some shops abandoned or collapsing. They trace the deterioration partly to what they describe as the failure of successive administrations, particularly that of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, to sustain the original relocation policy.

According to them, the alleged lax enforcement of the relocation order allowed traders to return to available spaces around Isigate and other parts of the city centre, drawing customers away from Ubani and undermining businesses whose owners had complied with the government’s directive. During a visit to the market by Vanguard, traders recounted painful experiences, describing a deteriorating commercial environment in which some struggle to cover their daily expenses. ‘This market does not look six months old’ A provisions dealer, Mr Ugochukwu Okeke, popularly known as Onwa, identified poor internal roads, lack of electricity, declining patronage and the absence of the promised alternative access road via Umueze as major challenges confronting traders.

He said the failure to construct the proposed Ubani–Agbo–Umueze Road had continued to expose road users to the dangers of the busy Umuahia–Uzuakoli Road. ” In 2013 when we were asked to relocate to this place, Government promised to build a shorter route to the market passing through Umueze and Agbo to make it easily accessible from the city but up till today we have not seen it.

The other day, a trader was returning to the City after the day’s sales and boarded a tricycle. On their way through the busy Uzuakoli road, a trailer had a break failure and rammed into the Keke. The head of the woman was cut off immediately as a result of the impact. That woman wouldn’t have lost her life if the road Ubani-Agbo -Umueze Road were fixed as promised earlier by Government 13 years ago. ” Another challenge we face here is poor sales due to continued decline in the number of people coming to shop here.

This is because of the existence of markets around Isigate. Many traders have continued to pull out of the market back to town and government is doing nothing but just watching helplessly. This is affecting the few of us that are here. ” This is 13 years we were forced to come here but this market does not look as if it has lasted for six months because it is going down everyday.” Beyond the physical deterioration, Okeke said the absence of banks in and around the market had created security risks for traders who handle cash from daily sales.

He recalled an incident in which a neighbouring trader allegedly lost a carton containing money after hiding it among refuse to prevent thieves from stealing the proceeds of his business. ” My neighbour sometime ago lost his carton of money here. He was putting the proceeds of the day’s sales