Current Trends: Enugu Govt Sacks Ogige Market Traders To Build Bus Terminal
On Tuesday, thousands of vendors and labourers at the well-known Ogige Market in the University of Nigeria neighbourhood of Nsukka were observed hastily packing up their merchandise to avoid the state’s 72-hour notice to vacate the market.
Most of the market’s stores were closed, and those that remained open were having their owners remove their inventory. An irate trader was heard to say, “We were given 72 hours to leave.” “They delivered it to us earlier this year in November. But this one comes out of nowhere. The majority of the locked stores are already vacant.
When our writer visited, a woman who was packing her goods into the little truck exclaimed, “This is the height of insensitivity on the part of the government.” This is what occurs when people are in pain. Two weeks ago, I paid the rent for my shop. I’ve lost a lot because of this policy. They claim they wish to construct a contemporary motor park. In that same way!
Nobody is available to speak on our behalf.
Ignatius Mama, a mobile phone repair technician, claimed that the state government had expressed interest in demolishing some portions of the market even before Governor Mbah’s election.
“We were not properly resettled when this sack notice came,” he stated. This Ogige may not have enough traders and labourers to withstand the impact. Since receiving the sack notice, I am aware of someone who has become ill. It is incorrect to treat Nsukka traders in this manner.”
United Bank for Africa’s Nsukka town branch on Enugu Road was also impacted by the demolition. The premises were off-limits to customers. A few bank employees were positioned at the gate to point clients in the direction of the UNN branch.
A peek inside the building showed that the bank’s equipment had been moved outside, including seats, PCs, and other electrical devices. Ifesinachi Transport Limited’s Nsukka Park is also impacted.
Under anonymity, a traders’ association official stated, “We’re not sure when the bulldozers will arrive. It will probably happen very soon. The people leaving wish to prevent more losses if the bulldozers arrive. Earlier, security agents paraded around the market to inform us about their presence.”
The executive members of the traders’ association were nowhere to be seen. It was learned that they had arrived at their planned settlement.
A warning urging a prompt evacuation of their goods has been circulated among the vendors. “More than half of Ogige Market, Nsukka, is gone and will be demolished in the next 40 hours,” the message stated in part. The state administration designated it for demolition and granted a 72-hour window for relocation.
The Old Park, phone accessory areas, Peace Mass Transit plaza, and the buildings from Lines A–E down to the Alu Udele junction are among the locations that are impacted and are scheduled for removal. Call it fake news if you wish. Order everyone to remove anything detachable right away.
It was learned that the state government intends to construct a cutting-edge bus interchange terminal in the impacted districts.
