When the Rivers State Government unveiled its plan to build a flyover that would take up the entire stretch of the popular Ikokwu Spare Parts Market along Olu-Obasanjo Road, crossing through to Azikiwe Street in Diobu area of Port Harcourt, with the attendant demolition of the shops, many of the affected traders believed they are down and out as their source of livelihood would be gone!
But with recent developments, even as construction of the project is now in top gear, have shown that those initial fears were natural, and simply misplaced as the traders have amazingly turned the table with a rare display of a never-say-die spirit.
As understood, many shop owners had initially dismissed the flyover project as a political stunt, given the long delay that heralded its eventual take off.
However, as time crawled on and project contractors, Julius Berger, began to move equipment to site after a few shops fell to the bulldozers, it then dawned on the sceptics that the government meant business after all.
The first casualties in the turn of events were tenants in and around the adjourning streets in the Ikokwu area.
Many who could not afford to pay, following a sudden spike in rent, were shown the red light. Sadly, the poor tenants had to be ejected to enable the richer business people (spare parts traders) take over, and convert the rooms into shops.
Of course, the landlords have the statutory powers to do anything legitimate with their houses. The trend gradually saw traders taking over most of the houses, setting the stage for emergence of a ‘new’ Ikokwu parts market!
The ‘new’ market which currently covers streets like Gambia, Echue, Anozie, Emole and Abel Jumbo, also took houses in Adelabu, School Road, Owhonda, Ejigini, Chigbu and other Streets at the Mile Three axis.
Some traders who spoke to National Network opined that inspite of whatever intention government had in building the flyover, the closure of the spare parts market has become a blessing in disguise for obvious reasons.
According to Mr. Mike Ibezim who secured a shop at Abel Jumbo Street, the relocation paved the way for what he says is better business.
Recalling that he shared a space with someone else while at Olu-Obasanjo, he said he now enjoys a one room space which not only accommodates all his wares but also left a space for a table where his Cashier sits comfortably to keep the accounts.
The same was the case for Chisom Ekene who now carries out his car batteries sale business at Obasiolu Street.
“The streets seem to provide better space for cars to park without hassles. Even the dreaded Wike Taskforce guys doesn’t come into the streets to molest our customers”, he said.
Even food vendors and other micro services providers who reportedly, suffer all forms of extortion from self-appointed revenue agents, confess that business in the streets is not unprofitable.
According to Mr. Kingsley Nnanna who deals on carbide, used mainly by welders and panel beaters, “When my shop was demolished, I secured a space at Anyama where I placed a caravan.
“I didn’t stay there for two weeks when the bulldozers came and demolished the remaining shops and sent everyone packing”.
Nnanna said he thought life was over after he lost Anyama which seemed like a last bus stop, but God helped him to secure a space at Adelabu Street, adding that he is doing great in the place.
Insinuations have been rife from some quarters that government’s decision to channel the Ikokwu flyover towards Azikiwe Street rather than Ikwerre Road is, in the words of an anonymous trader, ‘a tactical ploy by the Nyesom Wike-led government to shut out the traders from doing business in the area’
But opinions gathered by this reporter indicate that the flyover would accelerate development into the very heart of Diobu in the near future.
With the flyover moving farther into Azikiwe Street, the values of properties in Onoto and Iloabuchi Streets would appreciate.
“I see a paradigm shift from Ikwerre Road to the Ojoto and Iloabuchi. The flyover no doubt would reduce traffic in Ikwerre Road. Commercial activities will spiral in Mile Two and even institutions like RSU will benefit immensely”, observed Mr. Evans Preye, a teacher at a privately-owned college along Ovim Street in Diobu, Port Harcourt.
