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Enugu State is poised to become a key player in the regional automotive industry, as the government has announced the construction of a futuristic International Motor Spare Parts and Allied Trades Market, a project that has generated significant excitement among traders at Coal Camp, who are hailing Governor Peter Mbah’s visionary leadership and commitment to economic growth.
Dr. Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, the Managing Director of Enugu State Investment Development Authority, broke the news during a high-level meeting with the executive members of the Enugu Motor Spare Parts and Allied Trades Association, Coal Camp, Enugu, generating excitement and anticipation among the stakeholders.
Dr. Ogbu-Nwobodo emphasized that the new market, strategically located at 9th Mile along the Enugu-Onitsha expressway, represents a fulfillment of Governor Peter Mbah’s campaign pledge to the trading community at Coal Camp, underscoring the administration’s commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and boosting economic growth.
Dr. Ogbu-Nwobodo lamented the deplorable state of affairs at Coal Camp, where traders operate in a hazardous environment, making it impossible for businesses to flourish. He emphasized the urgent need for a modern market infrastructure to revitalize the trading community.
“The present condition of the traders at Coal Camp is nothing to write home about. During the last campaign period, they asked the state government to provide them with a more conducive environment that could accommodate all of them. Today, as we speak, work has commenced on the site. The governor is fulfilling the promises he made to the traders, and he is relentless in making sure that their businesses grow,” he said.
Speaking on the key facilities that would be in place, he said; “It is going to be an ecosystem that supports modern businesses, commercial and light industrial activities. There will be facilities like modern shops and warehouses, police post, fire protection architecture, sufficient conveniences, banks, parks, school, health facility, union centre, recreational facilities, and other things that will enable business growth.”
Dr. Ogbu-Nwobodo explained that the selection of 9th Mile as the market’s location was a deliberate move, given its status as a thriving business nerve center in the state.
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He noted that the new market would spur additional development in the surrounding area, while also providing a convenient gateway for shoppers and traders from neighboring states, including those in the North, Ebonyi, Cross River, and Central Africa, to access goods without the hassle of navigating through the city.
“9th Mile is a major business hub in the state, and this will give more impetus for further development around the area. We should equally recall that there is already a free trade zone built by the state in the area. This site will accommodate all the traders and leave more room for expansion in the future,” Ogbu-Nwobodo said.
In his reaction, the President, Enugu Motor Spare Parts Dealers Association, Chief Mike Nomeh, said that Enugu had had numerous administrations which did not treat the welfare of traders at Coal Camp with the priority it deserved.
According to him, the relocation of the market was long overdue as they had written to past administrations to look into their welfare, appealing to the Governor Mbah to ensure the speedy delivery of the market as their present location at Coal Camp called for mercy.
“We have been praying for this since previous administrations, but thank God a visionary governor is fulfilling his promises to us. We are looking forward to finding ourselves in this promised land. All the traders at Coal Camp were very happy to receive this news because we have been suffering for a long time. We have suffered neglect in that Coal Camp, and I tell you that everyone is happy with this move by the governor to relocate us to a better place. We are so much grateful to His Excellency,” the president said.
Eze Benjamin, a sectional chairman at Coal Camp, celebrated the governor’s initiative, sharing his personal experience of struggling with inadequate facilities for over 30 years. He likened the new market project to a dream come true, finally providing a suitable environment for traders to thrive.
“I know that the governor is capacity-filled. I urge him to keep up with this pace because it will benefit all of us,” Eze said.
