There is palpable fear in the Ariaria International Market, Aba, Abia State as over 50,000 traders have been projected to be displaced from their shops ahead of the planned demolition and remodeling exercise in the market by the state government.

This is even as traders, shop owners and stakeholders who are seeking a roundtable discussions with Governor Alex Otti, Commissioner for Trade and Investment or any government have called on the governor of the state, Dr. Alex Otti, to temporarily suspend the planned exercise to enable the traders and government to sort out some of the grey areas that the traders have raised concerns about the planned demolition exercise that will give way for the remodeling of the market.

It could be recalled that the decision to remodel Ariaria International Market was the brain-child of the former of the state, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu to address flooding in the market and also to reshape the market to meet international standard, starting with a section of the “A” Line handled by Blessed Henkens Construction.

Our correspondent reports that the areas that would be affected in the planned demolition and remodeling of the market include Zone A, B, C, D, C-Lock Up, Park 1A and Park 1B respectively.

The leaders of the affected zones in a media chat on Saturday (today), held in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state, appealed to Governor Alex Otti to suspend the planned demolition exercise temporarily to allow proper discussions between their members, the developer and the government.

This is as they claim that many traders are not aware of the planned demolition exercise.

The traders who pleaded that the demolition be deferred till next year to enable them find alternative location to relocate pending when work on the affected areas would be completed, said should government go ahead to demolish the said areas as it planned this July, it would plunge over 50,000 shop owners and traders including their families into poverty and would also fuel social vices among the youths who would be idle as a result of such action.

Spokesperson for the group, Chief Chidi Agbawo said that a lot of shop owners and members are demanding full commitment of the government in ensuring no trader or shop owner was marginalised or denied his right.

According to Agbawo, “we are not against the demolition exercise and government’s plans to remodel the market.

“What we are saying is that the demolition should be systematic and a two-way dimensional process, where the developer and the traders should have a mutual understanding and co-exist so that it will bring a better result.

“We are also appealing to all the prospective developers to thread with caution as not to heat the polity.

“More than 70 percent of traders and shop owners who lost their shops were displaced till date.

“The traders are saying that we don’t want a repeat of what happened at A Line to happen again. That is why we want a roundtable discussion on how, where and how the demolition will go.

“The most important thing is that the traders are not against the remodeling, but our fear is total displacement, total deprivation of our rights, total deprivation of what we owe.

“Some of us have their pension and gratuity there. 60 percent of owners of that property are old. (The Nation)