Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has assured traders who lost their shops in the demolished Eke-ukwu Main Market on Douglas Road in the Owerri metropolis priority during the allocation of stalls.
Commissioner for Commerce in Imo, Mr Simon Ibegbulem, made the disclosure in Owerri on Sunday when he led a team of journalists to inspect the project.
He said that the project which was over 40 per cent completed, would be rounded off and inaugurated by December, 2022.
The market was pulled down by former Gov. Rochas Okorocha’s administration.
Ebegbulem said the market had 2,925 lock-up stalls and would have modern facilities, including a bank, police post and fire service, among others, when completed.
He said that on completion, the state government would collaborate with the market association to ensure that traders who lost their shops in the demolished market were given priority during the allocation of stalls.
Mr Declan Emelumba, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, explained that the governor decided to rebuild the facility because it remained the only Owerri ancestral market.
“When the governor assumed office, prominent Owerri people paid him a courtesy visit during which they cried out over the abandonment of the market after it was demolished.
“They pleaded with him to come to their rescue and rebuild their only ancestral market and the governor assured them that he would rebuild it.
“So, what he has done is to wipe away the tears of Owerri people,” Emelumba said.
He further said that the project was being executed through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
Emelumba also conducted the newsmen round the Fashion Cluster, being built by the state, in conjunction with the Federal Government to promote small and medium enterprises.
NAN reports that the facility is equipped with more than 500 modern machines for sewing and designing and solar panels for 24-hour electricity supply.
Emelumba said the facility would provide the platform for trained tailors and fashion designers, who had no capital to acquire their own machines, to rent and do their businesses.
He said the state government also gave N250,000 startup capital to 1,500 youths, who were trained in different skills, such as dressmaking, hairdressing, shoemaking and welding, among others.