By Brown Chimezie
Traders at the Building Materials International Market, Ogidi, Anambra State have cried out for assistance from Governor Chukwuma Soludo over the perennial flooding that ravaged their shops destroying goods running into several millions of naira.
President General of the market, Chief Jude Nwankwo who made the appeal yesterday while conducting newsmen round the affected shops and plaza in the market said government intervention is needed both in assisting the affected traders and also in the construction of an effective drainage channel that can control the surging flood in the area.
Nwankwo lamented that private plaza owners in the market refused to shift ground during the construction of drainage channels in the market while some also built on the waterways noting that only a government enforcement team can force the recalcitrant businessmen in the affected areas to fall in line and do the right thing.
An affected trader, Mkpuruoma James Bekee lamented that the surging flood overran the entire shops in about five plazas in the market destroying goods in about one hundred shops.
He said he lost vital documents including his business incorporation certificate to the flood and called for a quick intervention towards solving the problem.
Chairman of Market Board of Trustees, Chief Mark Aguiyi described the situation as devastating noting that even vehicles were submerged at the car park owing to flooding reiterating that the solution is beyond the capacity of the market leadership to handle.