The Nsukka Journalist Forum (NJF) notes with concern the demolition of OGIGE MARKET by the Enugu state government.

According to the forum, Ogige market is the only market in Nsukka Local Government Area, and the biggest daily market in the Enugu Senatorial zone and by extension, the old Nsukka Cultural zone.

this was contained in a press release e-signed by it’s chairman Benson Whyte Ezugwu.

“The government has said that the demolition was necessitated by the need to construct a Transport Terminal as part of further development of the state. A good idea in all sense of it but a very wrong implementation and improper timing.

With the present economic challenge Nigerians are going through this exercise will surely aggravate the situation on the part of the affected traders. Some of the affected traders and dependants will surely be sent to their early graves by this exercise.

One would have expected a carefully planned exercise with negotiations and meetings with stakeholders to fashion out an acceptable venue to either move the traders to alternative area or move the proposed terminal to another area to avoid colossal losses by the traders. 

There is no doubt that the government has the power to do whatever it wants but democracy in the true sense of it is “government of the people by the people and for the people.”  Since the planned terminal is for development, we think the people ought to be carried along in the spirit of democracy.

We, therefore, appeal to the government to consider the plight of the traders in this austere time by providing them an alternative market to lessen their sufferings in the face of the current hardship.”