The Aniocha North Local Government has issued a public notice warning allottees of open stalls and lock-up shops in the newly opened Modern Market in Issele-Uku to open their shops for business or risk revocation of their allocation.
In a public statement on Monday, the Local Government noted with disappointment that some allottees have instead of opening their shops for business, have put them up for rent at exorbitant amounts, contrary to the purpose of re-establishing the market.
The Local Government viewed the development as an act of sabotage and against good conscience, as it hinders genuine traders from accessing the market stalls.
The Local Government in the statement signed by the Head of Personnel Management, Mr Bertrand Ojeh on behalf of the Executive Chairman, said it has received several complaints from traders who are willing to operate in the market, but are unable to afford the high rents being demanded by some allottees.
In response to this anomaly, the Local Government has given all allottees a one-week grace period, effective from Monday, May 26, 2025, to open their stalls and lock-up shops for business, warning that failure to comply with the order would result in the revocation of the allocation of open stalls and lock-up shops found not open for business, starting from Monday, June 2, 2025.
The Local Government emphasized the importance of compliance with the order, warning that failure to do so will have obvious implications for the allottees concerned, even as the council maintained that they are determined to ensure the market serves its intended purpose of providing a platform for genuine traders to operate and meet the daily needs of the citizenry.
The re-establishment and commissioning of the Modern Market in Issele-Uku was aimed at providing a modern and conducive environment for traders to operate.
However, the current development has undermined this objective, prompting the Local Government to take decisive action.
