Interview: No Fake Products At Orba World Bank Market, Caretaker Chairman

Dr Chijioke Ezemeokpe is the Caretaker Chairman of the World Bank Market, Orba, in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State. In this exclusive interview with THE WHISTLER, Ezemeokpe said contrary to reports of fake products being sold in the market, only genuine and certified goods are traded in the market. He also spoke about the impacts of the cancellation of Monday sit-at-home on the traders of the market. The excerpts.

There are allegations that fake and substandard products are being sold at the World Bank, Orba. How does your administration control the quality of goods being displayed by the traders?

The information is totally fake, unfounded and malicious. I have been running the affairs of the market for about four months. I believe in transparency and truth. I am also dogged in whatever I am doing. It is almost that I sleep in the every night, monitoring what goes on within and outside. The market closes at 6:30pm every day. Nobody has any right to go into the market when it has closed at 6:30pm whatsoever. We have water tight security architecture. The traders don’t sell fake products. We have a functional task force. They work round the clock to ensure that whatever is coming into the market is well searched and monitored to ensure the best products are sold. Again, any products being brought without bearing NAFDAC numbers is abhorred. If you hear about fake products, it is not in the World Bank Market where I superintend. However, we have other markets in Orba, aside the World Bank. We have Wharf, Timber, Obollo-Afor Park and Chimaroke Market. Within my jurisdiction, we don’t allow anybody to bring anything that is illegal. We don’t allow goods being brought at night. When goods are being offloaded, we monitor whatever is being discharged for quality control.

How did the traders react to the cancellation of Monday sit-at-home in the state?

I was not there when they stopped observing Monday sit-at-home. Then, they used to lock down every Monday in obedience to the directive of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. The traders shunned opening their shops on Mondays for security reasons. When I assumed office, despite its cancellation, the traders were usually skeletal on Mondays. I engaged the marketers. I told them that I was sent by Gov Mbah, warning them that if they refused to open their shops on Mondays that their shops would be locked up. They heard me, and since then, the operations of the market have been optimal on Mondays. We don’t even know that sit-at-home ever existed again. We thank the governor for restoring the day which was almost making traders lose valuable incomes.

When we came in, the security architecture of the market was porous. We had to call the stakeholders for a re-plan. One of my members is the chief security officer of the market. We don’t play with security. The chief security officer is a traditional ruler in the community. He is transparent. Since I assumed office, I have not seen any trace of stealing in the market. Whenever it is the time to shut, we make sure all the entrance is locked, and we only open one route. Again, my office ensures that security apparatuses are provided to ensure that the operatives operate maximally. We don’t have any security threat in that market. Everywhere is calm.

What challenges are confronting the operations of the market?

To oversee a big market like the World Bank Market is challenging. I came in to restore peace in the market. Hitherto, they were having some issues. The chairman that was there had some issues with some elements in the market. In fact, the matter is in court. Before I came in, it was alleged that the man was carving out some areas to build shops. Gov Peter Mbah, our governor, cares about the comfort of the people of the state, the traders inclusive. I try to follow his footsteps. Everything being done is transparent.

Apart from ensuring harmonious co-existence of the traders, we have the challenge of some basic amenities. During my inspection of facilities of the market, I uncovered a borehole which ought to be a part of the market. The past chairman is alleged to have monetised it, making it a private borehole for profit making. The traders face the challenge of water. For instance, their toilet facilities are unkempt due to lack of water. Such is dangerous to human health. So our effort is being geared towards making the borehole in the market do the role it is built for. Reticulating the water to some strategic places is part of our agenda.

In terms of electricity, the traders say they need a transformer. We hope that our listening governor will help us by giving a transformer to solve the light challenges of the traders of the market.

Tell us about the fire emergency state of the market

The traders and indeed the market are at the risk of fire incident. Fire outbreak is nobody’s friend. When it occurs, the impact can be devastating. So the best approach is being precautious. Once more, I plead to the concerned authorities to think about placing a fire service truck in the market as a first responder to fire outbreaks. There is a nearby fire station, but having a designated truck within the market should be considered.

What is your message to some traders who are against the constitution of the caretaker committee to run the affairs of the market?

I appeal to those against the constitution of a caretaker committee to run the affairs of the market to have a rethink. World Bank Market has been having unresolved issues for over twenty years. All efforts usually proved abortive. I learnt that a past chairman of that market was once killed due to crisis. Since the killing, it has been from one trouble to the other until I came in. I make efforts to bring everlasting peace in the market. I engage all the parties and with time, peace shall return permanently. Those who are against the caretaker committee should rather work with us to enthrone everlasting peace for the good of all and sundry in World Bank Market, Orba. In fact, many of us were recently sued to court. We are not there by ourselves. We were sent by the state to restore peace. It is the intention of the government to make the market peaceful. I brought peace. Gov Mbah wants the best for the marketers. If they maintain peace, they will not regret. I believe the traders are happy. The traders recently mounted billboards for the re-election of Gov Mbah. They are comfortable.

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