By Davies Iheamnachor

PORT HAR-COURT— Traders at Mile One Market Extension, Port Harcourt, whch was demolished by the Rivers State Government have begged the state government to compensate those whose goods were ruined during the demolition exercise.

The traders also urged the government to stop refering to occupants of the market as illegal, said that the area was approved as a temporary site for trading activities by the former governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi.

The state government had demolished the market located around former Obi Wali Cultural Centre and confiscated goods worth billions of naira, tagging the area a criminal hideout.

Wike

Speaking, yesterday, in Port Harcourt on the plight of the traders after the demolition exercise,  Chairman, Mile 1 Market Traders Association, MMTA, Mr. Kenneth Eze, begged Governor Nyesom Wike to provide alternative source of livelihood for the affected traders.

Eze said that 2,000 traders whose goods were damaged are currently out of business and that there was need for appropriate compensation, adding that two of the traders have died as a result of shock.

He said that one John Okonkwo was one of the two traders who died. “The traders were officially relocated from their original place of business at Mile One Market (the area now designated for phase two of the market project) to the old cultural centre and a letter was raised in that regard by PHALGA on February 3,” he said.

“Upon the receipt of the letter, I and the other market leaders pleaded, persuaded and prevailed on the traders to move to the temporary site with assurance of quick return as promised by the government. This agreement was reached with the past administration, but we know that Rivers State Government is one.

“What happened to the affected traders is unfortunate and regrettable, particularly, in this democratic era where due process and the rule of law ought to be held sacred by the government and its agencies and departments.

“We are calling on Governor Wike to come to the aid of the traders numbering over 2000 by immediately providing alternative place of business for the traders and release a compensation package to assuage their grieve and ameliorate their sufferings.”