Across many streets in the state capital, movements are sometimes derailed, as traders battle for spaces with pedestrians in the middle of the roads to display their wares. Yet, these trading activities are sometimes being carried out on government paved roads meant principally for vehicular movement. Of note is that some major streets which were being plied by vehicles have been taken over by street traders, who also deface them with wastes and other disused objects.
Then businesses and trading activities went on at government approved areas in the capital city included Ekeonuwa Owerri, New Markets among others. Just as street trading is haphazardly conducted across major roads and streets, so also are motor parks springing up at unauthorised places around Douglas, Wetheral, Control Post, Imo State University Junction, Mbari / Okigwe; Wetheral / Okigwe; Okigwe by Tetlow; Douglas / Aba Roads among others.
Then, notices were issued to the traders to move their wares to the preferred areas, but many ignored him. When he exited office in 2019 and Emeka Ihedioha took over, the menace gradually returned. Ihedioha, whose populist stance was not being too inquisitive to hurt the residents, had preferred to dialogue on every issue.
It was therefore not surprising that a month ago, the member representing Owerri Municipal in the 27 -member Imo State House of Assembly , Clinton Amadi , sponsored a motion, urging the governor, Uzodimma, to direct the appropriate agency to rid the streets of Owerri of street traders. Earlier in the month, President of the Imo State Amalgamated Markets & Traders Association , Emmanuel Ezeanochie, hosted the members of the House Committee on Commerce and Industry, chaired by Johnleoba Iheoha .
“I find it better to stay outside here than inside the market. Customers move from here before they enter the market. So, we usually see them first, convince them and they buy our things,” he said No! For the simple reason that I know that our constitution does not provide for it. I also know that he is a politician; he believes in consensus building, superior ideas and engaging.He was the last Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank following the bank’s merger with Access Bank. Thereafter, Uzoma Dozie established Sparkle, a digital bank, which is a product of his experience working in the traditional banking space for over two decades.