What was meant to be a peace-building visit by the Abia State Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Mr. Kingsley Nwokocha, to traders at the Ariaria International Market turned chaotic on Thursday, as aggrieved shop owners confronted the commissioner over unresolved issues surrounding the remodelling and allocation of shops in the A/B/WWLS section of the market.
The commissioner was reportedly escaped lynching by the enraged traders who accused the state government of turning a blind eye to the injustices they have suffered since 2021.
Tensions escalated when the traders accused Blessed Henken International the contractor handling the redevelopment of selling completed shops to the highest bidders, contrary to directives given by Governor Alex Otti.
Speaking during the heated meeting, the traders demanded that the state government correct what they described as the “first mistake” before proceeding with any new development phase.
According to them, the injustice of stripping original allottees of their shops has led to immense suffering, including the reported deaths of some displaced traders.
Despite attempts by Mr. Nwokocha to calm the situation, the meeting ended abruptly amidst chaos and shouting, with security personnel swiftly intervening to whisk the commissioner away to safety.
The traders insisted they were not opposed to the modernization of the market, but outlined several key demands:The engagement of multiple contractors to allow for healthy competition and improved quality;Staged payment structures for accountability and transparency;
The government to present prototypes and specifications for uniform development and to assign supervisors for monitoring;A shop price ceiling of ₦5 million upon completion;An initial allocation cost not exceeding ₦150,000.As of press time, there has been no official statement from the state government on the incident.
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