The expected mercantile activity at the scrap market has been eliciting excitements in the state and its environs as plans to reopen the market soon are in top gear. EGWUAGHA AMARACHUKWU, who visited the place recently, recounts the situation
Thrills over return of Abakaliki scrap market
The scrap dealers association in Abakaliki capital city of Ebonyi state, has counted many losses since government closed down the marker in June 2017.
These dealers who are made up of young and old men in the society had lost hope of returning to what they know best to do most of the traders have withdrawn their wards from school following their inability to pay school fees and sundry fees, in the face of untold hardship that has befallen them.
Our checks revealed that some of the members resorted to apprenticeship in other trades to survive and keep life moving since the closure of the market, as some cannot boost of feeding their families.
Shadow of its self
Authoritatively, Blueprint reports that the market which was closed on 15th June 2017, is now a shadow of its self as the market is still under lock and key till date.
The closure emanated from the purported illegal activities going on in the market where government electric cables was reportedly sold their. And also it was revealed by government authorities that the market aid rubbers who commit such act.
In an interaction session with the scrap dealers they express their readiness to cooperate with the state government to ensure their business place is reopen and equally to see that such ugly activities does not found reoccur.
Closure of the market
Mr John Azi, chairman, Scrap Dealers Association, Abakaliki, who hails from Ezza south local government area of the state narrated how the closure of the business took place and the effect it has on the members so far.
“It was on 15th June 2017, when I got to the market and saw a team of federal policemen and crowd gathered to my surprise I asked what was going on and was told that government properties were stolen, hidden and sold in the market. In fact, they alleged that the market aid criminals who stole and sale government properties.
“I was shocked to the bone, because we know our members and knew that we don’t encourage such activities here, normally if we sight such thing we on our own with our security guards impound such person to police along with the goods. We have done that severally and hand them over to the central police station (CPS).
“So on fishing out and arresting the perpetrators government closed down the market.
Efforts to resume business
The chairman narrated movies made so far to know if government would allow then commence their business activities in the market.
“Further inquiries to know if the market could be opened for us to continue our business, we were told the matter was in the hands of the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Umahi, on Internal Security. Since then we have been appealing to the state government through the office of the SSA on Internal Security to reopen the market, since the culprits has been arrested and currently in police custody.
But our pleas we belief is yet to bear fruit as government has not totally agree to reopen the line, they rather said they would constitute a committee (constitution drafting committee) to draft a constitution for the association which will guide us. Pending when this is done government is not ready to listen to us.
“However this committee has been constituted and we expect to have the constitution read to us soonest as promised by the SSA on Internal security.
Though he admitted that not all that comes out for business has good motives, he expressed happiness that the perpetrators of the act are in police custody now. “It is true that not all that come to market has genuine motives, but I’m happy that those who spoiled the association name were apprehended.
In fact, the bad eggs are not our members because for you to be a member of Scrap dealers association you must register with us and show a sortie that will guarantee you in case of any occurrences. But some people disguise as scrap members to commit all sorts of atrocities, whereas government only knows we the dealers and hold us responsible for anything weather in good or bad.
Challenges
The dealers through their chairman, decries series of hardships faced by their members since closure of the market.
“The closure of this market has put us to untold difficulties. Most of us have gone into apprentice for seven to eight months now and has find it difficult to take care of our families, some of our members has withdrawn our children from school, we can no longer live up to our responsibilities.
More so some people who assist us financially has seized from doing so because of the impacts created by the incident.
Similarly, the financial secretary of the association Mr Ugo Desmond who aligned said 80 % the people dealing on scrap are residents in Abakaliki and while many who are in school sponsor themselves through the earning form the market but could no longer do so.
They also pledged to give strict search of the market if reopened.
The market if reopened we the excos will monitor every members to ensure no member deals with illegal goods. Before now we do sack any of our members who indulge into criminal activities.
Government assurance to reopen the business
On the side of the state government, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Umahi on Internal Security promised that as soon as government requirements are met the market will be reopened to them
“Opening of the market may not be automatic because government gave a specific guideline which we are to first of all register all the scrap dealers within the state. Government further directed that constitution must be drafted which has been done, it is here in my office what is delaying it is that we want to critically examine the constitution to be sure that all the necessary input are made after that we now streamlined the leadership of the association with the security agencies together to make sure we have a proper supervision of their activities. It is after that now that we make a report to the government and government will give further directives on how to reopen the place.
“We are going through this procedures to ensure that what led to the closure of the place does not repeat itself, it is not all about opening the market is to ensure that government properties are protected by these scrap dealers.
“We know that it is not all of them that are bad. But it is the bad people that are fomenting these troubles.
“Even as we are still working to reopen the market people are still busy vandalizing government properties. Two weeks ago people were caught vandalizing electric cables at Hausa quarters and the cable was found in a scrap shop there.
We are doing our best to reopen the market but they should equally help us achieve that. Hopefully the market would soon be opened. The SSA added.
