By NewsCritic Reporters
The authorities of Ariaria International Market have applauded the Abia State Government for its timely intervention in mitigating the hardship being experienced by traders as a result of last weekend flooding at the market.
It could be recalled that the flood prone market was at the weekend ravaged by massive flooding which led to many traders losing goods worth several millions of naira.
NewsCritic online reports that it is the perennial flooding problem at the old market that forced the government to commence the ongoing remodelling and reconstruction works at the market at the middle of 2021.
Chairman of the market, Elder Emeka Igara, while commiserating with the traders who lost their goods to the flooding incident commended the state government for its foresight in embarking on the reconstruction efforts, noting that but for the ongoing remodelling of the market, the flooding would have wrecked more damages.
“When the government began this reconstruction efforts last year, it was goaded by the desire to put a final end to the perennial flooding at the market. But some people who prefer to play politics with everything tried to sabotage the effort. I want to say here that but for the ongoing reconstruction the effects of the flooding would have been more disastrous. So, you can see that what the government saw yesterday, we are seeing today,” Igara stated.
According to the market Chairman, the government apart from announcing certain palliatives for the affected traders, has directed the contractor handling the reconstruction of the market Blessed Henken LTD to within two weeks ensure that a solution is found to the incessant flooding at the market.
When NewsCritic online visited the market on Monday, it was discovered the contracting firm has already started the construction of a water channelling tunnel in an effort to put an end to all flood related problems at the market.
In an interview with the press, the firm’s Chief Engineer, Mr Emerawa, said with the completion of the tunnel, the issue of flooding at the market would hopefully be controlled permanently.
Meanwhile, the state commissioner for Trade and Industries, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, has set up a committee to embark on the immediate assessment and evaluation of the extent of damage done to goods of affected traders by the flooding, with a view to recommending appropriate financial and other support from the government.
