Abia Demolishes Umuahia Market Built In 1935

file: Gov Orji inspecting New Main Market in Umuahia
file: Gov Orji inspecting New Main Market in Umuahia

The Umuahia main market that was built at the city centre during the colonial era has been demolished by the Abia State Government.

In an effort to decongest the city centre, the state government constructed a new market at Ubani Ibeku, near Umuahia.

Traders were given up to October 19 to relocate to the new market, although a cross-section of the traders complained that the market was not yet ready for business.

The old market was formally closed on October 21, by the market relocation committee, while its demolition commenced last Saturday.

Chairman of the committee, Chief Ebenezer Offor, who was seen supervising the demolition, yesterday, told NAN that “work is in progress”.

Offor expressed happiness that Governor Theodore Orji had finally “broken the jinx,” saying that previous administrations attempted to remove the market from the city centre without success.

“Many prominent Abia indigenes at home and abroad have been sending me text messages thanking God and the governor for this great achievement,” he said.

He said the area had been cordoned off by men of the state vigilance service to avert loss of lives.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN recalls that an unidentified bus driver, who went into the market on Sunday to pull out an iron rod during the demolition, lost his life, when the wall of the market collapsed on him.

NAN learnt that the market was built in 1935.