Wike receives praises for constructing world-class market in Port Harcourt

…Removes management authority of the market from Port Harcourt City Council

Kelechi Kas

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has declared that he will constitute a committee to manage the affairs of the Popular Rumuwoji Market.

Speaking during the commissioning of Rumuwoji Market, Governor Nyesom Wike, said the state government would henceforth take over the management of the market from Port Harcourt Council.

He added that shop spaces would be allocated to the original traders of the market through an open balloting system, and also assured to give allocation to the women of the host community, Rumuwoji.

Governor Wike stressed that the market is a fulfilment of his campaign promise to the traders who lost their shops during the fire outbreak on 16 December 2013.

“I am going to set up a management committee that will oversee this market, it is not a local government market, it’s a state market and we will give allocation first to the community Rumuwoji, secondly, to the Rumuwoji women and let me make it clear whatever space I give to the women must not be rented out, the women must trade there. I will give you money to start the trading. I can not be a Governor without empowering my people, and I must empower my people.”

Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, and Chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum said the essence of government is to fulfil promises made to people and affect lives positively.

Also Read:‘Now I understand why they refer to Wike as Mr Project’ – Fayemi

“Government is about affecting the lives of people and improving the quality and condition of our society, I want to commend Governor Nyesom Wike for doing this, we may not be in the same political party, but my duty as Chairman of Governor’s forum is to support, protect and defend all members of my forum regardless of party, and I can tell you that Governor Wike is a front line of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum”

Governor Fayemi urged Wike to ensure that the market is run by those who get shop space to enable proper accountability.

Also Speaking, Chairman Port Harcourt Local government area, Victor Ihunwo, thanked the governor for building a world-class facility for the people and pledged support to stop illegal Street Trading.

“Governor Nyesom Wike has today removed tears from the eyes of the traders by giving them joy; he has done his part as governor, the rest is for us as Council to partner with the illegal Street Trading Committee to see how we can keep Portharcourt city clean. May God continue to bless the governor more especially with all the projects he has commissioned in Portharcourt.”

On his part, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Housing, Dirokweni Amiofori, said the building has three floors, four hundred and twenty-one lock-up shops, thirty-four open shops, four hundred and Forty-one tablespaces, two banking halls, Police post, Clinic, restaurant, fire station and water pumping station.

Our correspondent Tina Amanda reports that three shop winners emerged from the open ballot Governor conducted during the commissioning

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary of Rivers State Ministry of Information, Paulinus Nsirim, has said that the construction of Rumuwoji market will help to boost the revenue from trade and commerce in the state.

Paulinus Nsirim, who stated this while fielding questions from our reporter Tina Amanda said the market is people-oriented built, which captures all types of trade both small and medium scale, thereby opening more business opportunities.

According to him, Governor Nyesom Wike administration is well instituted to cater for short term and long-term investment.

“With this kind of structure built in the city centre where commerce and all forms of trading activities take place, you can be assured that it is going to bring a lot of dividends to the state, there is space for traders who sell perishable goods; such as fruits and vegetables, the market is designed to accommodate traders irrespective of how big or small their business is.

“The implication of this new project is, trade and commerce in the state will have a new boost beginning from today, because His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike cannot embark on a project that will not impact the lives of his people.”

He stressed further that the sustainability of the project would not be a challenge so long as the government is working in liaison with the market traders association.