By Nkechinyere Ewa
The Ebonyi State Government has moved to address tensions surrounding the planned upgrade of Nweori Market in Mbeke Ishieke, assuring traders and property owners that they will regain their shops after the redevelopment.
This followed a tripartite meeting held on Sunday at Mbeke Ishieke Primary School involving state officials, local government authorities, community stakeholders and residents.
Presiding over the meeting, the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Mathias Adum, urged the people to embrace development in the interest of future generations. He stressed the need for cooperation to ensure the smooth execution of the project.
In a communiqué presented by the Commissioner for Border Peace, Prof. Awo Nwobashi, stakeholders unanimously welcomed the development of the market and commended the state government for its developmental strides.
The communiqué stated that all property and shop owners would be accommodated after the completion of the project.
“all the property and shop owners are assured of getting their shops after the development of the market,” the resolution read.
The meeting also thanked senator representing Ebonyi North Onyekachi Nwebonyi for attracting the project to the area and commended the leadership and people of Ishieke for maintaining peace despite initial concerns.
Speaking, the Chairman of Ebonyi Local Government Area, Barr. Chinedu Uburu, said the meeting was convened to interface with the Ministry of Lands and the Isofumini village over issues arising from the market development.
“We have deliberated on a couple of issues and one of what we agreed was that there is no way the market development will not go on, but let the proper thing be done,” Uburu said.
He added that the Ministry of Lands had conducted evaluations of affected shops and assured owners that their interests would be protected.
“For the shops destroyed, we’ve agreed that every shop owner, so long as you owned a shop there before and it has been properly documented, your shop will be given back to you,” he stated, while appealing to affected residents to maintain peace.
Also addressing journalists, the Commissioner for Lands, Dr. Matthew Nwaboshi, explained that the community had requested government intervention to upgrade the market.
According to him, due process was followed, including acquisition procedures, notification and enumeration of properties within the designated perimeter.
“All the shop owners and property owners, all their rightful interests will be legally protected. So there is no going back about that,” Nwaboshi said.
He dismissed reports of any petition against the project, noting that he was not aware of any formal complaint submitted to the ministry.
Stakeholders at the meeting further urged the 13-man committee headed by Apostle Benjamin Obaji to submit its report within one week to enable the project proceed without delay.