- By NGOZI ONWUKWE
The President-General of the Abia State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA), Chief Alphonsus Udeigbo has hailed traders on their enthusiasm in registering and obtaining their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and National Identification Number (NIN).
Udeigbo equally expressed concerned over the delay in the completion and delivery of the first phase of the remodelling and reconstruction efforts at the Ekeoha Shopping Plaza, Aba.
While acknowledging the significant success so far recorded in the continuous voter registration exercise, the ASMATA president urged the traders not to relent in all efforts in ensuring that Governor Otti is returned come 2027.
Speaking on Thursday, April 30, 2026, when he led executive committee members of ASMATA on a working tour of Ekeoha Shopping Plaza, Udeigbo reaffirmed that no original shop owners and occupants will be left out and/or shortchanged after the remodelling exercise.
He lamented what he described as the snail-like speed at which the reconstruction efforts are moving, noting that the delay in completing the shops is negatively affecting traders and other market users.
The visit to the Ekeoha Shopping Plaza marked the commencement of ASMATA’s tour of markets in Abia State, aimed at interacting and getting acquainted with challenges facing traders.
According to the ASMATA president, “We don’t know what is delaying the completion of the shops. Our thinking was that by now, our members who were temporarily relocated due to the reconstruction would have been back, as most of them are facing difficulties where they are currently.
“While we appreciate that work is in progress, we also note that the pace appears slower than expected. We had anticipated that by now greater progress would have been made.
“Nonetheless, we commend the efforts so far and respectfully urge the contractors handling the project to accelerate the pace of work in order to meet the government’s timeline.
“Our plea to the developers and the site engineer is for them to put more effort into hastening the completion so that the displaced traders can resume their normal activities.
“Our priority as leaders of ASMATA is the protection of the interests of traders in Abia State, and we will not be comfortable with a situation where our members are facing untold hardships due to disruptions of their business activities.
“Our amiable and performing Governor Alex Otti has always prioritised the creation of an enabling environment for traders in the state. So, we are urging the developers to complement the efforts of the government by ensuring the completion of the reconstruction exercise as soon as possible.”
He said ASMATA is overjoyed by the high level of interest and enthusiasm so far shown by traders in registering and obtaining their PVCs and NIN.
“We are also happy that a significant number of traders have completed their Labour Party (LP) e-registration membership exercise.
“However, we are urging you not to remove your legs from the throttle because the task of delivering our governor for a second term in office is one that must be accomplished if we are to continue to enjoy the ongoing transformational strides in Abia State,” the ASMATA president noted.
He emphasised the need for all stakeholders in the remodelled and reconstructed shops, particularly the original shop owners, to ensure the revalidation of their title deeds ahead of the completion of the exercise.
The ASMATA President similarly urged the leadership of the Ekeoha Shopping Plaza to liaise with traders who are not shop owners but on rent before the demolition of the shops so that their interests will also be protected after the remodelling.
“Our thinking is that, if we can have a comprehensive list of the traders who were on rentals at the demolished site, we can make a case for them to be considered by the shop owners when giving out the shops. Their interests also deserve to be protected, just like those of the original shop owners,” Udeigbo added.
Earlier, the Chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Plaza, Comrade Emeka Okeke, had informed the ASMATA leadership of the readiness of traders at the market to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that Governor Otti is re-elected for a second term in office.
He particularly appreciated traders for their commitment and total participation in the ongoing continuous voter registration and LP membership e-registration exercises.
Comrade Okeke noted that a significant number of the traders have so far registered and obtained their PVCs and NIN ahead of the 2027 polls.
On his part, the representative of the developer, Arch. Gbenga Pau Gbamiboye, expressed optimism that the first phase of the remodelling and reconstruction exercise will be delivered by the end of May 2026.
According to him, the developers are working towards having Governor Otti commission the first phase soon, after which the shops will be handed over to the owners.
