Plans to relocate businesses from Okija Street to a new permanent site were announced by Amairigha Hart, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in Rivers State in a meeting with members of the Electrical Dealers’ Association.
According to a statement released on the government website on Saturday night, it was announced that the meeting held at the commissioner’s office was part of the government’s efforts to improve sanitation, restore order, and promote urban renewal throughout Port Harcourt.In Iriebe, the proposed relocation site is located at Km 17 of the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway.
According to Hart, the state’s plan for creating a cleaner and safer city was well-understandable. He noted that the traders’ relocation would contribute to the enforcement of planning regulations and the establishment of a more organised business environment. He expressed his pleasure with the association’s willingness to work together and guaranteed fair and transparent proceedings.
He brought together the developers of the new site and traders to facilitate a smooth transition. This was done through negotiations. The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Soibi Harry, underscored the government’s broader urban renewal drive, saying the relocation plan fits into efforts to reshape Port Harcourt into a cleaner, more orderly city.
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She emphasized that planning standards would be upheld and that the ministry intends to ensure development is properly regulated. Association president Chief Chukwudi Achomma welcomed the dialogue, noting that traders had long sought clarity on the relocation. He explained that disputes over their former market had slowed progress, but praised the government for listening to their concerns. He pointed to past financial troubles as a major setback.
According to Achomma, developer Barrister Emmanuel Ogbebor assumed control of the electrical village after the association defaulted on loans tied to the property. Association secretary Chaplain Jerry Azubuike, who once served as a cabinet minister, added that members had initially built the market themselves but lost it when debts mounted.
He recalled that an initial loan of about ₦60 million ballooned due to rising interest, leaving traders unable to recover the site. Azubuike said earlier assurances from the government about subsidised shop payments at the new location had raised expectations. He stressed that fulfilling those promises would encourage members to fully embrace the relocation plan.
