By MONDAY AJOGUN

The traders at Ochanja Central Market in Onitsha, Anambra, have defied the Christmas celebration as they commenced the construction of Ochanja Central Market road.

Addressing newsmen on Thursday in Onitsha, the caretaker committee chairman of the market, Mr Bonaventure Muo, said that the construction of the road became necessary following the increased dust pollution in the market.

Muo said that the dust was hazardous to the health of the traders and their customers.

He noted that the construction of the road would cost them N6.5 million, saying that the best time for the road construction was Christmas period, when traders and their customers had gone for the Christmas celebration.

According to him, “we resolved to embark on the construction because the market is free now.

“The market is empty but if we do the construction when the market is in session, it will be disturbance to both the traders and their customers.

“We sourced the money we are using, about N6.5 million, from our little weekly savings as executives of the market to do this for the traders as sacrifice and to have good environment for trading.

“You know the high cost of things now especially building materials, this is gate three road, it is about 500 metres length, we did the second road (German floor), about this time last year also.

“The first gate road was done by the previous market leadership. We are not interested in what the opposition is saying to distract our attention from giving the traders an enabling environment for trading,” he said.

He stressed that they were committed to providing good roads for the traders because they remain in the market come rain, come sun.

In his contributions, the Secretary of the market, Mr Obinna Mmaduka, reiterated the resolution of the leadership to ensure provision of enabling environment for the traders.

Mmaduka said that the caretaker committee’s achievements had surpassed those of the past regimes. (NAN)