Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has reiterated that no original shop owner in the A-line section of the Ariaria international market and Ekeoha market would lose their shops after the ongoing remodelling exercises.
The Governor gave the assurance on Wednesday when he received a delegation of the National Association of Nigeria Traders in his office.
According to Governor Otti, every original shop owner should be given the right of first refusal before reallocating their shops to other people.
He warned that whoever is not entitled to a shop that goes ahead to buy the remodelled shops would lose their money, saying that he has given the contractor clear instruction that the original owners of the remodelled shops be considered first.
“On the issue of shops, we have taken note of the revelation you gave us and we are going to look into them. We inherited that reconstruction of A-line. But I have given clear instructions that those who own shops must have first right of refusal.
He assured them that his administration has arranged bank loans for those who may not have money to pay for their remodelled shops, noting that a shop owner can pay half of the stipulated money while the bank provides the remaining part.
The Abia Governor, however, informed the traders that the banks would keep the title documents of such shops until the owner completed the payment to the bank.
On the issue of payments of 18,000 yearly levy in the market, Governor Otti said the State government changed the system so that all payments would go straight to the State government’s bank account.
Otti equally rejected the plans by the traders to honour him with an award, maintaining his decision not to accept any award while in office, as he clearly stated in his inaugural speech.
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