Umuahia city central market returns

By Endee Nwafo
The city center of the Abia State Capital popularly known as Umuahia is now a growing makeshift market which is quickly expanding around the same point where the old isi gate market used to be. The market consist of small shops that where quickly erected by traders along the railway stretching from shoprite junction down to Warri street.

Recall that the previous government under the leadership of Theodore Orji had moved the market to a new location outside the capital. The purpose was to decongest the Central Business district which was always congested making movements frustrating for the citizens.

Further investigation reveals that the development has government backing. The project is run by an individual. So currently allocation is ongoing and there is a rush for whatever space is left along the railway line as used to be the case when the Old market was there.

The reaction towards the development is rather mixed. Some Abians believe it’s a good development that the market is back to the centre of the town. To them this means that they they won’t have to worry about commuting to the Newmarket which is off town considering that they have to spend money especially when you just want to buy something to cook for the evening. On the other hand some others feel it is a bad decision that will only lead to be congestion of the Central Business district as it used to be known. That means criminality will increase again and the road will be constantly blocked especially the long road that leads to other the parts of town towards Aba.