Commercial Activities To Receive Boost In Delta

The Delta State government said it would provide enabling environment that would make moneymaking activities to thrive at the Uvwie Modern Market.

The market which is located at a serene developing community in the council area is equipped with a clinic, a fire service station, police post, fully installed power plant in a completed plant house as well as a modern abattoir with an attached shopping section.

This was made known to journalists by the Commissioner for Finance, Olorogun David Edevbie, after an inspection visit of facilities and operations in the market, recalling that the Uvwie modern market was one of the three markets built by the government of Chief James Onanefe Ibori with a total of 1, 000 shops.

In his speech, the market manager, Mr. Richardson Osifo of Dan and Co., disclosed that the market was operating at only five percent as only about 50 out of the 1, 000 available shops are currently being occupied, appealing to the state government to rehabilitate the Alegbo-Ugbolokoso road to create good and free access to the market.

Also speaking, the leader of the Market Traders Association, Mrs. Keziah Otuagoma, said that the provision of prepaid metre in all the shops would solve the problem created by exorbitant bills being served the traders by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

The traders raised the issues of closing down nearby illegal markets, improvement of security at the market and the possibility of organizing trade fair at the market to attract public attention.

Meanwhile, the Finance Commissioner commended the market manager and the traders for not damaging the facilities and putting the market into use despite the low patronage.

Olorogun Edevbie was accompanied to the inspection by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Reginald Bayoko and the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on security, Prince Kelly Otuedon just as they promised to take up the electricity challenges with the management of BEDC with a view to procuring prepaid metres for each shop.