Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa
Attempt by the Bayelsa State Government to hide its inability to provide a befitting market for traders at Tombia Road, a suburb of Yenagoa, the state capital, may be an exercise in futility as traders prepare for a showdown with the government.
While some of the traders who refused to relocate to the new market but to other private markets around the area described the new market provided by the state government as ‘befitting for animals’, while those who managed to stay obeying government directives said it was a slap on the face of the government to allow private markets to spring up around the area and take over traders evacuated to the new site.
Recall that Governor Douye Diri had ordered the evacuation of the Tombia Market located along the road leading to the airport to a new site following preparations for his second term swearing-in ceremony.
The exercise, impeccable sources said, was aimed at hiding the menace of the market from visitors to the to the second tenure swearing-in event.
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Police tear gas was used to forcefully evacuate the traders from the market site on February 12, 2024.
However, the Tombia market has been on shell pipeline throughout his four years first tenure.
Although dangers of trading on the pipeline was adduced as a major factor for the evacuation.
Mr. Gbenga Daniel, a meet seller in one of the private markets, Alakeme Market, who gave reasons for his refusal to relocate to the new government allocated market, said that the newly-allocated market was not fit for human habitation.
Mr. Daniel noted that before a serious government should evacuate a market to a new site, the place should be put in order while necessary amenities should be put in place.
He decried that the new market acquired by the state government saying it does not appear like a market but where cows are dumped for grazing.
“We are not animals. That place is not a market, it is like where they dump cows. It is not meant for human habitation. Before you move human beings to a place as a market, you put it in order. We are not animals. They could have taken care of all the necessary things before telling people to move to that place.
“After all we also voted for you when you were doing your campaign you came to us . We also campaign for you too so why will you treat us like animals.
According to him, the late DSP Alamieyeseigha completed the Swali market before traders moved in.
“Go to Port Harcourt, before they move anybody to any place they will first of all put the place in order then you move them”.
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At the new market where government had relocated the pipeline market to, the few traders who were still there threatened to also leave the place if government failed to provide the necessary amenities.
It was observed that the market is located on a marshy flood plane .
With rains threatening, the traders said they were at risk of being taken over by flood.
Besides providing amenities, they also demanded government to block the private markets around the area to enable traders move to the government relocated market .
They decried that it was only the initial period when the market was relocated that customers stormed the place but after then most customers preferred the private markets around the area.
They threatened to also leave the place if government does not block or force traders using the private markets to the new market.
“Close down the private markets so that traders will be forced to come back to the new market
“The private markets have made traders who were here not to come back , even customers are no more patronising us. Our perishable goods are rotting away, many have perished,” noted a trader in the new market.
Favour Sunday, a perishable good s seller noted that if government wanted the new market to succeed, ” the first thing to do was to block the private markets operating around the area and let every reader come to the new market and also sand fill the place.
“If they don’t block the private markets then we will go to the road to sell our wares.”
Also speaking in same vain, Sunday Obi, a trader expressed surprise that only one man, the owner of the private market would control the state government by influencing traders to desert the government-owned market .
“Only one man, the private market owner want to control the government
” No will power by government, it is a slap on the government for allowing other markets to exist after it asked us to come here [the new market]
“Government’s aim will be defeated if quick action is not taken.
“We have been at loss , our perishable goods are wasting
“We may go back to our former place , we are at risk here . This is a flood plain that is not well sand filled , he said.
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Alhaji Dahiru Yawketi, the chairman of Okutukutu Etegwe Junction Market Association also spoke in the same vein.
“Government sent us to this place without doing anything to make the place inhabitable.
We were at pipeline when government sent all of us to move to this place but they have established small markets in that area and it has affected this market.
“They supposed to do road and sand fill the market. Now customers can’t come into the market to buy things, since morning we haven’t sold anything. Our perishable goods have spoilt .
“The market is now divided because all of us agreed to come here but other markets are cropping up here and there and that is why we are not selling.
“We are begging, the government should please look into this matter let the government make everybody to move to this place let him seal the other markets over there
“Let the government sink borehole for us, do the road, install solar light and build toilets for us” , he appealed.
The traders also appealed to government to immediately build market stalls and to make the place more habitable by providing toilets, security.
Mrs. Gladys Internet, who sells native wares noted that forcing meat sellers to relocate from the private markets to the new market would also enable government achieve its aim.
The most important thing here is to bring slaughter immediately, when they build slaughter all the meat sellers will come here and the market will work.
” And there should be more sand filling of the market because when it is raining people cannot walk through this place.”
Mrs. Elo Edward, a petty trader also asked for security , adding that her drinks are being stolen including her bags of sachet water.
“Let the governor come and do the needful if not we will also move to the main road and sell.”
Ijeoma Stella Ukaegbu, a tomatoes supplier, in her plea also said “we are selling perishable things. We cannot continue our market in this place because there will be no buyers, over one month now we are not selling . Please governor help us.” she pleaded.
