Shop Allocation: Fubara Assures Mile 1 Market Traders

Rivers State Governor, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, has assured original owners of shops at the Mile One (Rumuwoji) Market in Port Harcourt that there interests would be protected if they participate in the ongoing verification and capturing exercise.
The governor gave the assurance when some aggrieved traders under the auspices of ‘Mile One (Rumuwoji) Market Phase 2 Genuine Shop Owners Affected by 2013 Inferno’ marched in protest to Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday.
The governor, who was represented by the Head of Service, Dr George Nwaeke, appealed to them to work with the Rivers State Government Reconciliation Committee on Lockup Shops at Mile One (Rumuwoji) Market, which is working on the issue.
Nwaeke said, “We are aware of the problems in Mile One Market. What we will not allow is where our State will now be tilted to a place of violent protests. So, what I want to tell you is that, as the committee has started the process, we will continue with that process, fine-tune it wherever we think that, maybe, the process is not very good. Whatever this committee will do, will stand the test of time.”
The head of service however said not all the previous shop owners would be accommodated in the new allocations. “But be sure that a very large percentage will get. I can assure you that.”
The Chairman of Rivers State Government Reconciliation Committee on Lockup Shops at Mile One (Rumuwoji) Market, Mrs. Ibiwari Clapton-Ogolo, who is also the solicitor general and permanent secretary of the Ministry of Justice, said there was no need for fear by the traders.
She pointed out that the committee will consider all complaints, verify every claim and ensure that the original owners, who took Government to court, will be the first to be allocated shops before attending to others.She, however, insisted that if the group of original owners of shops refused to subject themselves to the ongoing process, they will be jeopardizing their position because the exercise will be stalled for no reason.
Mr Wariso Soso Soberekon, who spoke for the group, said they were afraid that the process was designed to deny them the chance to be reallocated their shops because the names that appeared in the newspaper publications did not include their names.
Mr. Soberekon insisted that they were assured that when allocation will be made, the original owners of shops will not be subjected to balloting or made to compete through any qualifying exercise to regain their shops.