Ikpeazu vows to arrest, prosecute those erecting illegal structures in Ariaria market

Following the successful dislodging of all street traders around the Enyimba area of the Ariaria International Market by the Ministry of Trade and Investment, and in a bid to restore sanity and order to the area, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has ordered that on no account should any form of street trading return to that area under any guise whatsoever.

The governor also placed ban on erecting any shops, tents or any other structure by whatever name called for the purposes of trading around that area.

In a release signed by the chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onyebuchi Ememanka, Ikpeazu has ordered all relevant agencies of the Abia State Government to work with security agencies to effectively and decisively carry out these instructions.

Security agencies according to the release are hereby authorized to arrest and prosecute any person who attempts to flout this order.

He emphasised that those who wish to do business are advised to find spaces for their trading inside the market.

Governor Ikpeazu further orders the Abia State Public Utilities Management Agency to immediately move into the area, clean up the place and turn the surroundings into green areas through the planting of flowers and other ornamental trees, as well as restore the original plan for that area which is to create unrestricted access into and out of the market.

He insisted that the government is fully determined to put an end to indiscriminate street trading and restore decency around our market environments and indeed along all major streets across the state.

The general public, especially those who do business at the Ariaria International Market should take adequate notice of this announcement.