Following the 72-hour demolition notice issued to shop owners at the Ogige market and Nsukka Motor Park by the Enugu State government, three National and State Assemblies members have appealed to Governor Peter Mbah to suspend the exercise.
The appeal was contained in a statement jointly signed by the lawmaker representing the Enugu North Senatorial District, Senator Okey Ezea, the member representing the Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chidi Mark Obetta and Malachy Okey Onyechi, representing the Nsukka West at the state assembly.
According to the lawmakers, the appeal became necessary due to the “prevailing economic hardship in the country and Enugu State in particular.”
The lawmakers also urged the governor to “consider compensating the affected traders and shop owners and relocating them to alternative market space and park”.
They lamented that over 10,000 traders, mostly women and youths, would be affected by the exercise, stressing that the demolition would “undoubtedly bring untold hardship on the people”.
Part of the statement reads, “We appeal to the State Government to liaise with the leadership of Traders and Marketers Association of Ogige Market and the relevant stakeholders for robust engagement on the best way forward to develop Nsukka without unduly occasioning untold hardship on the people.
“Instead of demolishing the existing motor park and some parts of Ogige Market, we respectfully suggest that the State Government consider locating the ultra-modern bus terminal outside Ogige Market to develop other parts of Nsukka.
“We would want the government to also note that this development, if not properly addressed and managed, may lead to an increase in criminality because a lot of people would be deprived of their legal means of livelihood.
“We would be pleased to have a meeting with the State Government on this issue to fashion out the best approach to bring development to our people without occasioning unbearable hardship on them, especially at a time our nation is grappling with excruciating economic hardship and security challenges”.