Alex Otti Aba market remodelling assurance guarantees existing traders first refusal rights and access to bank support in Abia overhaul

Governor Alex Otti has assured traders in Aba that no existing shop owner will lose a shop in the ongoing remodelling of Ariaria International Market and Ekeoha Market, pledging strict adherence to a first right of refusal policy.

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Alex Otti gave the assurance on Thursday at the Michael Okpara Auditorium while receiving members of the National Executive Council of the National Association of Nigerian Traders.

The governor said original shop owners would be granted priority access to the remodelled shops before any allocation to new occupants.

Alex Otti stressed that clear instructions had been issued to ensure compliance, warning that any violation would be reversed.

“If I find out that people who had shops were not given their right of first refusal, I will reverse whatever they have done,” Alex Otti said, describing the directive as sacrosanct.

The Alex Otti Aba market remodelling initiative forms part of a broader effort to modernise key commercial hubs in Abia State.

The governor stated that the number of new shops under construction would be sufficient to accommodate both existing and prospective traders.

Acknowledging the country’s challenging economic climate, Alex Otti disclosed that his administration had secured arrangements with two or three banks to provide soft loans for traders who may lack immediate liquidity.

The governor explained that financial constraints alone would not cost any trader a shop, as structured support had been negotiated to ease payment burdens.

Alex Otti also rejected calls for traders to oversee the redevelopment themselves, arguing that quality control could not be guaranteed under such an arrangement. The governor said the administration would not compromise on construction standards, adding that some individuals were attempting to assume the role of developers without the requisite capacity.

Earlier, National President of the National Association of Nigerian Traders, Ken Ukoha, commended what Ken Ukoha described as visible improvements across Abia markets. Ken Ukoha said the association had inspected facilities over two days and observed significant progress in road networks and flood control measures.

Ken Ukoha, however, appealed for greater involvement of traders in aspects of the redevelopment process to safeguard their interests.

In response, Alex Otti directed relevant authorities to enhance communication with market stakeholders, emphasising that the government’s intention was to ensure fairness and transparency.

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The assurance is likely to calm anxieties among thousands of traders who depend on Ariaria and Ekeoha markets for their livelihoods, reinforcing the administration’s message that reform will not come at the expense of existing business owners.