Tombia Market relocation: Bayelsa Govt Gives Reason’s, Assures Traders Of Better Deal

The Bayelsa State Government has adduced the need for safety and a conducive operating environment as compelling reasons that informed its decision to relocate the popular Tombia Market to its new site.

The Deputy Governor, Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made this known in an emergency meeting with leaders of the traders association and representatives of the various units in the market at his office in Government House, Yenagoa.

Justifying the action of the state government, the Senator Ewhrudjakpo, noted that the former site of the market was sitting on a high pressure Shell oil pipeline known as the Kolo Creek to Gbarain Trunk Line, which posed a grave danger to the lives of those transacting business there.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Mr Doubara Atasi, at the weekend, the Deputy Governor emphasized that as a responsible government, the prosperity administration would not fold its hand and watch people die avoidable deaths in the state.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo observed that the relocation had further enhanced the beauty and security of the area, and therefore, appealed to the traders to remain peaceful and law abiding as government works within the limits of available resources to make the new site conducive for them.

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He said government had already acquired and sand-filled over 42 plots of land for the new site of the Tombia Junction market, also known as the Okutukutu-Etegwe Market, adding that efforts were underway to acquire more land and temporarily fence the area.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who warned against indiscriminate imposition and collection of levies by unauthorized individuals, assured the traders that only the State Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment would oversee the newly relocated Okutukutu-Etegwe Market.

While urging them to always cooperate with the Prosperity Administration, he equally assured the traders that government would look into their complaints including goods that were allegedly burnt by security personnel in the course of enforcing the relocation order.

His words: “You have been very peaceful and have always shown love to your government. Therefore, this meeting has been convened purposely to hear from you; to hear your grievances.

“But I want you to know that what government is doing is in your best interest. As a responsible government, we will not fold our hands and see our people die unnecessarily.

“The place you have been using is sitting on a high pressure oil pipelines and that poses great danger to your lives. Many of you are familiar with what happened at Jesse in Delta State some time ago. We don’t want that to happen here.

“Government has already acquired 42 plots of land for the new site of the market. Another 42 will be acquired to further expand it. The new location is government-owned. It is no longer community land. So, no community boys will go there to molest you.

“Bayelsa belongs to all of us. We are not doing this to discriminate against anybody, but to provide a more conducive and safe environment for you to do business.”

Earlier in their presentations, the Chairman of the Traders Association, Tombia Market, Mr. Nigeria Ewhrudje, and his Okutukutu-Etegwe Market division counterpart, Alhaji Dahiru Yahu, said the traders were ready to cooperate with government to relocate to the new site.

They, however, decried the situation where some of their goods were allegedly destroyed by security agencies at the market.

The traders representatives including Mrs Doris Onos and Mrs Doris Alex, appealed to government to put everything necessary in place at the new site, including an abattoir and perimeter fencing to enable them do business with ease.