The Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah on Friday signed Executive Order to relocate auto spare parts market from all parts of the state including Coal Camp to the International Spare Parts and Allied Trades Park currently under construction; the new site traverses Udi and Ezeagu Local Government Areas along the Enugu-Onitsha Road of the state.
The Executive Order entitled thus, “the Designation and Establishment of the Enugu International Motor Spare Parts and Allied Traders Park, Nsude, Udi LGA and Ogwofia Owa in Ezeagu LGA and the Relocation of the Coal Camp Neighborhood and other Neighbourhoods in the Enugu Capital Territory to the New Enugu International Motor Spare Parts and Allied Trades Park Site.”
Speaking at the signing ceremony witnessed by the Attorney General of the state, and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, and some leaders of Enugu spare parts dealers at the Government House on Friday, Governor Mbah revealed that in cognizance of the social welfare of the auto dealers, the new site for the spare parts International market have residential facilities, smart school, health facilities and good roads opened up for ease of movement.
“It is an International market where you have all the services; clinic, fire service, truck park and all the challenges in the existing market will be addressed in the new market,” Mbah explained.
“This new market is a purpose-built vehicle because it is designed for market in the true sense of the word and with all the supporting facilities. We have taken into account all the safety codes that are required to have an international market.”
“As you may already be aware, the construction is ongoing. We are aggressively opening up the roads.”
“Our hope is that in the next few months, we are going to see the movement of you all from the current location to an international market where we have provided all the services. There is going to be a clinic and fire service there. There is going to be a truck park.”
“All the errors, all the challenges and the problems we have in the existing market will all be addressed in the new market.
“We have also made sure that you do not live very far from your market. We have residences around the market. It is an ideal neighborhood concept where you can live comfortably within your neighborhood and still do your trading and businesses comfortably without traveling far to get things done,” the Governor explained.
Applauding the Order, the Managing Director of Enugu State Investment Development Authority, Dr. Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, said the new site has an expanded environment, unlike the tight corner where the auto dealers are currently doing business.
“The auto dealers are moving to an environment that is commercially set up, healthy with ultra-modern facilities, protection, recycling and ownership as a lot of them will have opportunity to own shops,” Ogbu-Nwobodo said.
He further revealed that the dealers complained of the unavailability of shops at the current location for prospective auto dealers on completion of their apprenticeship.
On location of the new international market, the MD ESIDA said, “The environment is strategically located as people going to middle belt, South-South, Onitsha and Nnewi must pass through the market.”
“It is a strategic move that will boost economic well-being of the state and the shops will be available and affordable,” he assures.
Earlier, the President of the Enugu Market Spare Parts Dealers Association, Chief Michael Nomeh, told newsmen that the association was excited about the relocation to Obofia Nsude.
“We thank Gov. Peter Mbah for keeping his campaign promises. We agreed to relocate to the new place in our general meeting; we are not disputing it.”
“Aside from Coal Camp, we have other of our members at Abakpa, Emene, Eke Obinagu, Gariki, Presidential Road, Old Artisan, and other places in Enugu.
Commending the Governor on this giant stride, Nomeh said, “We thank the governor for the campaign promise that he has fulfilled. Since the inception of democracy in 1999 to date, there have been so many promises to our people that they will relocate us to the international market. But none of them has kept to their promises. That is why we appreciate the governor for keeping the campaign promises less than two years in office. He is a governor who does exactly what he says he would do,” Chief Nomeh stated.
