By Samuel God’spower
Wednesday November 20th, 2024
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has unveiled plans to transform the Creek Road Market in the old Port Harcourt Township into an ultra-modern facility.
This initiative aims to provide traders with a conducive environment while enhancing the city’s aesthetics and aligning with the administration’s Urban Renewal Policy.
Governor Fubara emphasized that the Urban Renewal Policy prioritizes the welfare of the people, and this reconstruction aligns with the broader vision of restoring Port Harcourt’s Garden City status. He stated this during a visit to the market on Tuesday, accompanied by top officials, to assess trading activities in Creek Road and surrounding areas.
In a statement issued by Nelson Chukwudi, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fubara highlighted the need for designated trading spaces to achieve a sustainable and liveable urban environment.
“You are aware that some weeks ago, a committee was inaugurated for the redevelopment of Port Harcourt Township. Since then, I’ve received numerous calls from stakeholders stressing the importance of addressing the Creek Road Market issue first,” the governor said.
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Governor Fubara recalled that during the previous administration, traders were temporarily relocated to No 3 Field for the reconstruction of Creek Road. However, no structured plan was made to rebuild the market or return the traders to a designated trading hub.
“We are committed to giving traders a befitting market before commencing the broader cleanup and redesign of Port Harcourt Township,” he assured. This, he added, will pave the way for relocating traders from residential areas, facilitating the beautification of the city.
The governor expressed empathy for the challenges faced by Rivers residents in the quest for urban development.
However, he reassured the public of his administration’s determination to settle Creek Road traders in a modern, well-equipped market as part of the ongoing efforts to transform Port Harcourt into a sustainable urban haven.
“We are aware that when Creek Road was reconstructed, the market was relocated to No 3 Field, and it affected the face of the Town.
“So, I came here myself with the Commissioner for Housing, Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Chairman of the Committee for the Re-urbanisation of Port Harcourt Township, and the Secretary to the State Government to see for ourselves what we can do immediately.
“I can say here that the first thing we are going to do immediately before we start the cleaning and the redesigning of Port Harcourt Township is to make sure that we give them (traders) a befitting market.
“With that, we can immediately move those people out of those residential areas so we can commence beautifying the town,” he stressed.
This initiative marks a significant step in fulfilling the governor’s promise to prioritize people-centric development while reshaping Port Harcourt’s urban landscape.