Addressing The Starlite reporter in his home town, Unadu, Chief Francis Agbaji said the urgent need to move the market to a better place within the Nsukka metropolis cannot be over emphasized adding that the market by its present location, size and structure would not allow for the promised facelift of Nsukka town.
He said: “I have heard the story that the government of Enugu State was working to relocate the market to another place within the metropolis and it is my wish to support the idea. Nsukka is fast growing and as a University town, it should be structured in such a way that first timers to the place will be pleased when they come into the town.
“I am sorry to say this but the truth is that due to the growth in population of Nsukka and lack of governmental supervision, that main area of Nsukka town is fast becoming a huge slum. The area is almost always overwhelmed by the quantum of dirt and garbage that come out of the market. The volume of waste from the market had at all time material embarrassed members of the public and even the officials of the Enugu State waste management Authority (ESWAMA). The situation is even more terrible when the compact trucks of the ESWAMA develop faults.
“When the market moves, government can then re-plan the central area of the town to look beautiful and welcoming to visitors. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) brings in new visitors to Nsukka every time and people had complained of the poor planning of the urban area of the town. We have the task of making the area look beautiful for us as a people to be proud of. If the trend is not checked now, the central area of Nsukka will automatically wear the status of a slum”.
Speaking further, Chief Francis Agbaji said the government should go extra mile to demolish the foot bridges erected by the former Nsukka Local Government Chairman, Hon. Dan Ugwuja stressing that the bridges were done in such a manner that it would never allow government to widen the main road.
“Let me also use this opportunity to advise that the foot bridges constructed by the former Chairman of Nsukka Local Government be demolished to pave way for the expansion of the Enugu road. Since the bridges were built, it has never been used by anybody and as I speak with you, the bridges had been converted by night traders to a toilet. It is impossible to cross the road using those bridges because they serve as toilets for the traders that do business within the metropolis and their customers. The smell emanating there from is even more hazardous to human health.
‘I know that there are going to be pockets of resistance coming from people who hate change, but after the relocation, those who opposed the move will finally acknowledge that there was the need to move the market to a better place”.
Debunking that the movement will cause undue hardship for petty traders, Chief Agbaji said that there is never a place one will not see poor people crying out for what they describe as injustice adding that even in America, there are petty business people and they work to drive the economy.
It could be recalled that few weeks ago, news was rife that the State government was planning to relocate the market to another location that will be more spacious, beautified and planned in a way to give people the proper environment to buy and sell.
The news had it that the government was contemplating moving the market to Nru area, near Otobo Ogidi or in a location after the Queen of the Rosary College, Nsukka
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