A group known as integrity Traders has called on imo state Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma to investigate the large scale of looting and arbitrary sale of shops going on In Mgbidi Timber Market
It will be recalled the past administration in the state awarded the contract of developing the market to one Mr. Nath Omoruyi who allegedly abandoned the job as soon as the administration exited in 2019 leaving behind huge heaps of materials such as rods, iron pillars and pipes.
Addressing newsmen, the convener of the group, who simply identified himself as Okwu Nkem decried the level of criminal activities going on in the market and sought for Gov. Hope Uzodinma’s attention in sanitizing the market.
He said the government is a continuum and so what is in the market by the government should not be allowed to be vandalized.
On the sale of shops,the convener said the government should investigate to know whether the proceeds were retired to the coffers of the state government.
Investigations reveal that these huge heaps of abandoned materials are being looted on daily basis and on my one of the occasions the traders caught one who claimed to be working for the developer carting away the materials and forced him to drop the materials he had loaded in a waiting vehicle.
Further investigations had it that some of the shops that were completed before the contractor abandoned the job were arbitrarily sold out at exorbitant prices without the state government’s involvement.
It would be recalled few weeks ago Mgbidi Timber traders intercepted one lawyer carting away materials meant for development of the market. According to investigations the man who claimed to be working for the assigned developer was made to unload the materials from vehicle.
However the leadership of market headed it’s market Master, Mr. ThankGod Abiaziem confirmed that a certain man was caught trying to cart away some materials meant for the construction of the market.
He called on Imo state Government to intervene on the series of challenges facing the traders ranging from insecurity, bad road network, abandoned project among others.
