Panic heralds Rivers threat to demolish illegal markets

Business owners operating along Elele Alimini and Ahoada town of the old East West Road have pleaded with the Rivers State government to rescind its decision to demolish illegal markets along Elele Alimini and Ahoada axis. Governor Nyesom Wike last week  ordered the demolition of illegal markets along the axis. Reps to halt abuse in […]

Business owners operating along Elele Alimini and Ahoada town of the old East West Road have pleaded with the Rivers State government to rescind its decision to demolish illegal markets along Elele Alimini and Ahoada axis.

Governor Nyesom Wike last week  ordered the demolition of illegal markets along the axis.

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He directed all those engaged in illegal activities in the area to quit because every standing structure in the areas would be demolished.

“Let me tell you, the state government has not authorised any market from that Ahoada Junction on East-West Road, keeping to your right and going back to Port Harcourt. Everything there is illegal.

“It doesn’t matter who owns them.  Whether you come from the South, East, West or North, if you have any of those illegal market structures, from that junction down to Elele Alimini, I’ll bring all of them down.

“I did not authorise any market and nobody can build a market on the road. No market must be on the East-West Road,” the governor said.

But many of those who do business along the route and those whose properties will be affected in the demolition have appealed to the governor to rescind the decision or provide them with an alternative land.

Some of those affected, who spoke with our reporter, said they have no other place to go to.

One of the business owners in the area and the leader of northern community in Ahoada, Alhaji Ali Aminu, appealed to the government to construct a business park for them.

Aminu said many of them have lived in Ahoada for several years and are law abiding.

“I want to appeal to the state government to rescind its decision on the immediate demolition of all the market structures until we are able to get a befitting alternative place where we can do our business.

“We want the state government to, in the alternative, construct a business park where both the traders that trade along the road and heavy duty trucks that park along the road will have a spacious place to do their businesses. The government may also consider another option of giving us land,” he said.

Another trader, Matthew Jonah, said that the demolition of the structures would displace hundreds of businesses in the area.

He said that many of them have been doing business in the affected areas for years and will be put out of business and their families will suffer if the demolition was carried.

“We know that most of the businesses here are located along the stretch of Ahoada Elele Alimini road but we want government to consider the plight of many of those that own businesses whose families depend on the proceeds from the business. We want the state government to handle this matter with human face,” he said.

The Chief Imam of the Central Mosque in Ahoada, Alhaji Ahmed Muhammed, said that many Hausa residents who are doing business along the stretch have been there for years.

“The state government was supposed to tell us the offence we have committed and we will amend our ways. If there is any law we have broken the government has the right to sanction or call us to order. We want the governor to help us at least to construct a business park where both transporters and business owners can do their legitimate businesses,” he said.

However, the state government said there is no going back in the demolition of the market.