The Managing Director of the Enugu State Investment Development Authority Dr Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, made this announcement in Coal Camp, Enugu, during a meeting with the Enugu Motor Spare Parts and Allied Trades Association's expanded leadership.
According to him, the market being sited at 9th Mile, along the Enugu-Onitsha expressway was in line with the electoral promises of Governor Peter Mbah made to traders at Coal Camp that his administration would build a world-class market for them.
He further stated that the present condition of the traders at Coal Camp was pathetic to environmental hazards, stating that no business could thrive in such an unconducive environment.
The traders at Coal Camp are not in the best of health at the moment. They requested that the state government provide them with a more accommodating environment that could accommodate all of them during the previous campaign period. Currently, construction has begun on the site. He stated,
"The governor is relentless in ensuring that their businesses grow, and he is fulfilling the promises he made to the traders." He said, "It is going to be an ecosystem that supports modern businesses, commercial, and light industrial activities," when referring to the primary facilities that would be in place. Businesses will be able to expand thanks to amenities like modern stores and warehouses, police stations, fire protection architecture, banks, parks, schools, health facilities, union centers, and recreational facilities.
Dr Ogbu-Nwobodo said the choice of 9th Mile was strategic because it is a major business hub in the state and the building of the market there would give more impact for further development around the area, adding that it would create easy access for shoppers coming from the Northern States, Ebonyi and Cross River states, Central Africa, and other locations, saving dealers the stress of navigating through the city before offloading or exporting their goods. “The fact that the 9th Mile is a significant location business hub will provide additional impact for further development in the vicinity. We should equally recall that there is already a free trade zone built by the state in the area Ogbu-Nwobodo stated, "This site will accommodate all traders and leave more room for expansion in the future
." Reacting, the President, Enugu Motor Spare Parts Dealers Association, Chief Mike Nomeh, said that Enugu had numerous administrations which did not treat the welfare of traders at Coal Camp with the priority it deserved.
He claimed that the relocation of the market had been long overdue because they had written to previous administrations to inquire about their welfare and asked Governor Mbah to expeditiously deliver the market because their current location at Coal Camp demanded mercy. “We have been praying for this since previous administrations, but we praise God that a visionary governor is keeping his promises to us. We are eager to discover our identity in this promised land. Since we have been suffering for a very long time, this news made all of the traders at Coal Camp very happy.
We have been neglected in that coal camp, and I can assure you that everyone is pleased with the governor's decision to move us to a better location. The president stated, "We are so very grateful to His Excellency." The governor was praised for taking the initiative by Mr Eze Benjamin, a sectional/line chairman at the Coal Camp. On his part He claimed that what was taking place was like waking up from a dream after spending more than 30 years at Coal Camp and that he had been longing for adequate housing for all of the traders.