Eket community to enjoy trading in an Ultra Modern Market

David Lawrence

The people of Eket Local Government Area will soon enjoy trading business as the old Urua Nka in the area will soon be converted to an ultra modern market. The project is initiated by the Member representing Eket state constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. David Lawrence Udofa, and is to be undertaken by CICASA (West Africa) Company Ltd after a stipulated period. This information was disclosed by Hon. David Udofa during his meeting and formal briefing with the Chairman and members of Eket Transition Committee in the office of the Transition Committee Chairman, Mr. Frank Archibong on Thursday, August 13th, 2015. During the meeting, the House member disclosed that the project will cost about nine (9) billion naira with a total capacity of 5,000 shops which he said will be completed within 24 months, adding that the state Government has already given approval for the project.

The House Member identified the Local Government council as the host of all development programmes in the area and requested the Transition Committee Chairman to negotiate and assist in relocating the Timber Market along Park Road in Eket Urban to the new site at Ikot Uso Ekong so as to allow foodstuff traders in the affected Urua Nka move into the present location of the Timber market. He expressed that the arrangement was imperative and apt for the contractors who he said were already anxious to commence the project.
The House Member asked the people of Eket to appreciate Governor Udom Emmanuel for his determination to change the face of Eket Township and disclosed further the State Government’s plan to build a 4-point Hotel in the Local Government Area; adding that the contract for the project had already been awarded to Niger Pet. Ltd. for the beautification of Eket Urban. He stated that he personally intends to construct an Amusement Park within the Hotel Environment in order to boost tourism in the area. 
In this response, the Transition Committee Chairman, Mr. Frank Archibong thanked the House member whom he described as a pace-setter for his developmental efforts. He remarked that Eket Local Government Area is overdue for a modern market and assured that his Committee has already interacted with the Timber market and foodstuff traders in Urua Nka on the relocation exercise and compliance of traders.
The Transition Committee Chairman also thanked the State Governor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel for his show of love for Eket people and promised the preparedness of his Committee to partner any agency or government on developmental programmes and projects in the area during their tenure. He used the occasion to request that the House member use his good office to ensure that the State Government releases adequate funds to Eket Local Government for the execution of programmes.
The Transition Committee Chairman appointed a four-member committee made up of himself, the Transition Committee Secretary, Barr. Richard Iyaha; Mr. Emmanuel Amos, Supervisor for Finance and Revenue Mobilization; and Deaconess EKA Assam Usoro, Supervisor for Environment as representatives of the Transition Committee on the modern market project.
The meeting was also attended by the Secretary of the Transition Committee, Barr. Richard Iyaha, all Supervisors, Special Advisers and Senior Personal Asides of the House Member and the Transition Committee Chairman.