Aba: Eziukwu market traders register cart-pushers to forestall theft
Traders at Eziukwu Road Market, one of the biggest markets in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, have embarked on the enumeration of all cart pushers in the market, to stop string of shoplifting activities that have been linked to the group.
They alleged that a good number of patrons have at various occasions lost their goods to criminally minded cart pushers, who take advantage of the flooded road to steal peoples goods.
Obiako Chinwendu, president, Eziukwu Road Market Association, told Cityfile that the exercise, which he described as face-saving, is aimed at restoring confidence amongst patrons, especially those from neigbouring States that have boycotted the market, due to the activities of the cart pushers.
He also alleged that these hoodlums break into peoples’ shops and warehouses and cart away goods, stressing that the exercise is aimed at sanitizing the market.
“Recently at zone 24, these hoodlums carted away goods worth over N3 million from somebody’s warehouse within the market. Also recently at Free Zone, they made away with somebody’s condiments.
“You know the area is flooded they easily meander through the flood and before you know it, they have disappeared.
“So, the exercise is geared towards sanitizing the market. We want to identify all the cart pushers in this market and weed-out the bad ones amongst them.
“To do this, we would register them, so as to have their data, after which identification numbers would be issued to them”. He also revealed that the identification numbers, would be printed on their aprons, which they must wear, while on duty. He described as false, claims by some of the cart pushers that they were asked to pay N1000 to acquire the aprons and a levy of N100, daily, stressing that the market union, would sponsor the project at no cost to the cart pushers.
Chiwendu, explained that the cart pushers would only be required to bring one-passport photograph and one-guarantor, who must be a trader in the market.
He also stated that the market union in conjunction with the Aba Area Command of the Nigeria Police has organized a seminar to sensitize the people on the need to reorganize the market, stating that the meeting was attended by representatives of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Police.