The Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has restated his administration’s resolve to rid the popular Lokpanta Cattle Market in Umunneochi Local Government Area of crime and make it non-residential.
Otti stated this when he paid an unscheduled visit to the Lokpanta Cattle Market, along the Enugu-Umuahia-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway, while returning to Abia from Enugu State on a private visit.
He said his administration was all out to protect legitimate businesspersons trading in the market and support such individuals. He, however, made it clear that the government would no longer allow anyone to live inside the market.
Governor Otti had stopped by in the market to inspect ongoing perimeter fencing project, aimed at securing the market, which had been a safe haven for criminals, decried the unsanitary condition of the market and admonished the traders on the need to clean up their environment.
“I was just passing by, and I thought I should stop and see the level of work that is going on here, and I am happy that work is progressing at great speed. I am also happy that you are cooperating with the Special Adviser on Security to the Governor and the Ministry of Lands and Housing, so that we can secure this place. I stopped around the abattoir, and I found that the place is very dirty and smelly. So, we have to ensure that it is clean because it is what people eat. So, you have a responsibility to keep the abattoir and everywhere you are clean.
“We must rid this place of crime and criminality. Legitimate people who have things to do, we will support you to do your business. So, that is why I stopped here to look at the environment and look at the level of work that has been done, and I am impressed that work is going on smoothly.”
He thanked the traders and their leaders for their cooperation and support to ensure that the state government’s policy of securing the market and making it non-residential was realised.
One of the leaders of the market, Alhaji Danladi thanked the governor for his visit and expressed happiness that the government was interested in the welfare and well-being of the cattle traders.