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By Vincent Kalu
The mall
The Aba ICT Centre of Studies and GSM Mall that was recently commissioned has opened for businesses.
Already, some of the traders are moving to the new ultra modern market.
Ezeibekwe
This was disclosed by the Chairman of Abia State GSM and Component Dealers Association, Nze George Ezeibekwe. He also applauded the Abia State governor, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, for constructing and reconstructing some of the major roads leading to the mall. He lauded the foresightedness of the members and their commitment to the realisation of the Aba ICT Centre.
The association’s chairman said they have put in place the necessary facilities that would be conducive for business to thrive in the place. ‘There is constant power supply, we have watertight security, and we have CCTV cameras mounted at very strategic place, apart from our adequate manpower in terms of security.
“In fact everything that is required from the association to ensure the workability of this place has been put in place. Presently, some of the executives have equipped and opened their shops and we are getting our maximum patronage from members of the public.”
HE stated that some members are still reluctant to relocate to the new location because they fear they might lose some customers.
“I think that fear is unfounded because the shops are very well numbered in a way that anybody with a particular address won’t get lost or be confused in locating it. This fear is the major factor we don’t have a holistic movement of our members to the new GSM mall. Some of them, no doubt, are coming out from their shells and embracing this veritable change,” Ezeibekwe stressed, adding that the relocation of members to the new place would be done in an orderly manner.
He praised the governor for his support for the new facility. “Few months ago, when we commissioned this Aba GSM Mall and ICT Centre of Studies, we presented to him some of the factors that may militate against the smooth commencement of business activities in the place, which included access roads. Today, I want to inform you that the governor has started the re-construction of the adjourning roads leading to the mall,” Ezeibekwe said.
“Our traders are mostly youths and we have about 300 sub faction shops for those who are into phone repairs. We started the contribution or payment of the shops about two years ago, some of our members that were very determined to own a shop in this mall have been able to pay up to one to two million naira in their contribution. We have also made provisions for our members that are not able to acquire any shop. We have spaces that will accommodate them and we have captured their data.
“We also have shops for rent and shops for outright purchases. We have above 600 shops and we have taken inventory of our members that are interested in renting and buying the shops outright. We have sufficient shops to accommodate our members. This project is a public private partnership project. There is a memorandum of understanding between us and the Abia State government and it is on the basIs of Build Operate and Transfer Back to the Government. The government donated the land while we brought the finances to build the mall.
“Our fundamental concern is our members and for them to buy the shops at a controlled price that is affordable to them. The association has done everything that is required of us. We have had a level playing ground and an understanding between us and the critical stakeholders – shop owners to bring out their shops for one year rent free to members. We have also ensured that the shop owners do not inflate the prices of their rents after the one year free rent might have elapsed.”
On the reason they are eager to leave St Michaels Road and its environs, the chairman of the association said it was because of the influx of great number of people. The crowd that has dominated St Michael’s road, he said, “has become a very big security threat to both the correctional services that is within that axis, the central police station that has its access road towards St Michael’s Road and the various courts that are situated within that area. The last time, there was an ugly experience that could have been catastrophic if not for the intervention of God.
“Secondly, the house we are occupying are individual residential houses that have been converted into shops or stores .The landlords have transformed themselves into demigods by collecting outrageous rent from the traders .Some of the shops that we are asked to pay one million or two million naira for one year are very small compared to what we have built here.
“Thirdly, the security of our goods at St Michaels Road is not always guaranteed. We have few vigilante men and we are just under the protection and guidance of God Almighty. Most times, these criminals will come in the night, overpower the security and steal our goods .These are some of the reasons we want to leave that environment at St Michael’s road to a more convenient and serene area.”
While concluding, Nze Ezeibekwe extolled of the virtues of the executives of Association, who he described, as ‘formidable team’ that worked tirelessly to ensure the actualisation of the project.
He further said that, ‘it is very difficult to see an association building this kind of structure without rancour and problems. My executives are people of like minds that understand the importance and purpose of building this structure. They worked tireless to ensure that this project was actualised.”
Also speaking, the ICT consultant for the association, Alicho Kalu Emmanuel, described the mall as a pride to the GSM and Component Dealers, adding that the centre would train interested persons and award certificates.
