Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has promised to fix the flood menace at the Ariaria international market, Aba and donated N10m to traders who lost their goods to the flood.
A massive flood had hit the market following the blockage of drainage channels at the market.
Ikpeazu, who stated this during a meeting with the traders at the Government Lodge, Aba, explained that he will not be happy as a Governor if he concludes his tenure without fixing the flood menace at the market which had defied past administrations.
The Governor stated that he had always been disturbed by the plight of the traders which was what necessitated him rehabilitating roads leading to the Ariaria market.
Stressing that there was no motorable road in Aba when he assumed office in 2015, Ikpeazu noted his efforts in rehabilitating the Ekwereazu –Akwa Ibom road as well as Ukaegbu, Ehere and Faulks roads to boost access to the Ariaria market.
He said; “There’s no Abia State without Aba and there’s no Aba without Ariaria market. No Governor will succeed without paying attention to trade and commerce as far as Abia is concerned. We will fix the flood problem at the market. Ariaria market is at the lowest level of Aba, but the flood problem will soon be a thing of the past. I will not be happy as a Governor if I conclude my tenure without fixing the flood menace at the Ariaria market. I have taken steps to fix the problem within a month. There was no motorable road in Aba when I assumed office in 2015. This is why we did the Ekwereazu –Akwa Ibom, Ehere, Ukaegbu and Faulks roads to boost access to the Ariaria market. We continued with other key roads in Aba including Osusu, Omuma, MCC, Eziukwu and Milverton, Samek.”
The Governor also pledged to complete the rehabilitation of Faulks Road, stressing that his administration has already mapped out N1 billion for the project.
“Those who mocked us will see a new Faulks road. We will also complete the rehabilitation of Faulks road.I have already mapped out N1billion for the project. I will tackle the Ariaria flood issue permanently. We must ensure that the flood problem is solved. If I fail to do it, then I would have not done enough for Aba. Between now and the next one month, all crucial water channels in Aba will be opened. Anybody that wants to make an omelete must break eggs and I sympathize with our traders who are currently being inconvenienced as a result of the work we are doing but all that will soon give way to celebrations.
He urged traders to stop disposing waste materials into the drainage channels to boost the water flow in the area.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, announced that Governor Ikpeazu has endorsed a two years tax waiver for displaced traders in Ariaria Market as well as the approval of the procurement of 10 new refuse disposal tricycles for the market to refuse disposal and called on the traders to partner with the government to ensure better sanitation practices.
Chairman of the Ariaria International market, Elder Emeka Igara, expressed gratitude to the Governor for coming to the aid of the traders.
Earlier, Anyanwu Austin, Ego Samuel and Chimaobi Godwin, who spoke on behalf of the victims also thanked the Governor and pleaded with him to open up the drainage channel leading to the Ifeobara pond to boost water flow in the market.
The Governor was joined by the member representing Aba North/South in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chimaobi Ebisike, as well as the members representing Aba North and Aba Central constituencies in the state House of Assembly, Hon Aaron Uzodike and Hon Abraham Oba, respectively, among other top government officials.
