Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The era of street and roadside trading may be coming to an end in Anambra State as Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Saturday commissioned modern shops named, Solution Arena in Awka, the state capital.
Solution Arena, a mini market, with over 40 open stalls, is located at the junction leading to Isuaniocha from the temp site and along the club road popularly known as Abakaliki Street, Awka.
Ikengaonline learned that the place was established by the governor to serve as an arena where vegetables, fruits, grills, and sundry food stuff would be sold by traders who hitherto had been sacked from roadside trading by his government.
Commissioning the project, the governor said the idea was conceived after examining the struggles and inability of the poor to own a shop. According to him, “We are aware that some women toil every day hawking vegetables and fruits in the streets to earn a living for themselves and their families.
“We are commissioning here as a model to solve their problem. This model will be replicated in several other parts of the state to permanently solve the problem of roadside trading.
“For this neighborhood, we are bringing an end to the suffering. All roadside traders will now be here and their accommodation will be free of charge because our motto is to be our brother’s and sister’s keeper.”
Soludo however said the only obligation of the beneficiaries will be to always keep the entire place clean and healthy including the conveniences.
Corroborating in an interview, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, ACTDA, Mr Ossy Onuko, said the model Solution Arena is for the poorest of the poor and to take roadside traders out of the pedestrian walkway.
“We are now taking the roadside traders out of the walkway and giving shops where they can sell their wares. We are providing them the alternative because the governor understands how weakened people’s purchasing power has become.”
Onuko said the administration is trying to transform the state capital into a world-class city and to be at par with other top cities of the world. He added that the model will be replicated in places like Onitsha, Nnewi, and Ekwulobia including semi-urban and urban centers.
He also stated that the government has constituted a high-powered management team headed by a principled religious leader and experts to take charge of the maintenance.
“We don’t want to leave it in the hands of civil servants. We invited experts in management to make sure that this place remains like this for at least 10 years,” Onuko said.
