For Immediate Release Niger Delta Women’s Movement for Peace and Development (NDWPD) call on Delta State Government to stay action on the planned Demolition of the Ughelli Goods Market 27th July, 2013, Ughelli, Delta State, The Niger Delta Women’s Movement for Peace and Development (NDWPD) has called on the Delta state Government to stay action on the planned demolition of the Ughelli Goods Market, saying that it is unlawful, unethical and a violation of Rights of the Traders especially the market women who are the majority in the Goods market and it lacks Citizens Engagement and Participation. The stakeholders and traders are not involved in the exercise. Ambassador Caroline Usikpedo-Omoniye , the National president, Niger Delta Women’s Movement for Peace and Development (NDWPD) and the Ambassador representing the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) for women Empowerment in Nigeria said the rights of the market people will be infringed upon if the government chose to use any forceful means in evicting the market women, or bringing down the market, since the women sell their goods in the market and any disruption will lead to loss of income , properties and even lives. Furthermore, if the government wishes to rebuild the market as they claim, the women are ready to relocate to a temporary site which will be provided by the Iwhreko community and the Ughelli Kingdom within the locality and upon proper documentation. Ogor is a kingdom that requires a market for its citizens, while the Iwhreko Market is the major market for Ughelli Kingdom and should not be taken away. The Ambassador stated that the re-allotment of the Ughelli-Ogor modern market has only brought disharmony to the citizens as the new market will inform community clashes, as there is conflict of allocation of the stores in the Ughelli-Ogor market. According to her, since Monday 13th June, 2013, when the government gave a 45 days notice for all traders to vacate the Ughelli market and move to a new site, the market women has called for our help , because the so called ultra modern market is not completed. There are no ceilings including other amenities even though the completion has been fraudulently signed on paper. With this relocation, over 800 women will be made vulnerable as most of these stalls are allocated to political office holders who intend to hire the stalls for the women at higher rate. Moreover, Ughelli market has been existing and known for more than 50 years, and customers will find it difficult to access the new market place. The neighboring communities like Ekakpamre, Ufuoma, Eruemukokurie effurun –otor and several others trade in the Ughelli main market. The amount of economic loss is enormous because the market people and mostly the women run their businesses on micro-credit and loans from microfinance and commercial banks, and they service these loans with quick turn –over from their business. Also, the issue of the Ogor youth who have consistently claimed sole ownership of the new market is a major challenge, the market rent for the year 2013 is expected to expire in December. The education of the children will be put to a halt as the new market location has no school around it, the market women has over 6 children each who attend various schools around Iwreko-and Ekiugbo, and the women will leave their stalls to collect their children after school hours. The site is located at a high expressway ( East –West Road, under Construction) which makes it difficult for mothers and their children to access. Government must take measures to make pedestrian bridge for the Ughelli-Ogor market to avoid the casualties that may result while assessing the market before the relocation exercise. A woman explained that, at Christmas season, the women go to market with their children to buy their wares and clothes, but with this development, it will be difficult for any woman to go to the market with 8 children or more, so this action by the government is planned to halt economic activities and increase poverty which has always worn the women face in Africa. The government did not consult with the women, neither was there any consideration on the impact this action will pose to the women and their children who forms the majority of the traders. We urge the government to come to the roundtable to evaluate the extent of loss of income, economic activities and livelihoods that this action will pose. The new market stalls has been allotted on 3 occasions and to 3 different persons and this is causing serious fight among the women We will however frown at any lips promises by the government saying they want to rebuild the Ughelli goods market. The government did not express intent to build. Based on the plans for the relocation, the Ughelli Kingdom and Iwhreko community gave an option to provide a temporary site, which the government has rejected. From all indications, the politicians have interest to rent the new stores at a high cost to the market women. A clear example is the outrageous fees of N30, 000 / year imposed on the traders, against the initial N1, 500 paid by them yearly. If government’s intention is to rebuild and bring them back, they will relocate temporarily, but they intended to shut down the market permanently thereby leaving the Iwhreko community without any new market. We want to conclude that Ughelli is an urban area that requires more than one market and the idea of shutting down one market for a new one is not welcomed. We must learn to share best practices both local and international, having gone round the continents of the world, there has never been a community or municipal that has only one market. Locally, Towns like Asaba, Agbor, Warri, Benin City, Onitsha, Yenagoa and other areas of Nigeria have multiple markets. . The planned relocation therefore, is unlawful, unethical and a gross violation of Human, social and economic rights of the women.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Jul 2013 20:41:19 +0000
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