Abia Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Okiyi Kalu, has reiterated the government’s commitment to complete remodelling a set of 1,440 shops in Ariaria International Market before May 29.

Mr Kalu, during a facility tour with journalists in Abia on Saturday, said the set of three blocks of shops had conveniences, elevators, electronically controlled doors, and spaces for commercial banks to operate.

“We are saying to the administration after us that the minimal standard is what we have made the matter for.

“And we expect they will follow this standard and deliver in phases, a standard international market for Ariaria traders,” he said.

Mr Kalu said the shops were enough to accommodate all displaced traders, stressing that only three out of 14 blocks on the demolished A-Line were nearing completion.

“Indeed, we will have more shops than we lost by the time the 14 blocks are completed, and we expect the work to continue,” he said.

He said the project had contractual obligations ensuring work continuation after the Ikpeazu administration had exited.

Mr Kalu said the project was a private–public partnership, and what the government did was to support the developer through a project bank guarantee to the tune of N1.5 billion.

He said that the guarantee had a repayment process that would ensure that the project continued and money was recovered.

He said Governor Okezie Ikpeazu had directed the market committee to pump water from the Ife-Obara pond to overcome the flooding problem.

“At the moment, we are issuing allocation papers to the original owners of shops on A-Line that have fully complied with the developer.

“From the second week of May, those traders whose shops are ready can return to their shops,” he said.

He said that the market would run on a three-power supply tripod that comprised supply from Ariaria Independent Power (IPP), Aba Power Ltd and a Solar System backup.

Mr Kalu said that the government had developed an independent security architecture for the Ariaria International Market which made it one of the most secure markets around.

He said the market has a community policing project by traders, the Nigeria Police and other Security agencies that secured its facilities.

(NAN)