Traders Make Brisk Business At Militants’ Camp

Published

15 years ago

July 11, 2010

Some petty traders and residents of Ogada and neighbouring communities are making brisk business at the ex-militants Federal Government’s Post Amnesty training camp in Obubra, Cross River.

The Tides source reports that social and economic activities had flourished in the camp since June 28, when the ex-militants arrived in the camp.

No fewer than 20,192 repentant militants affected by the October 2009 amnesty granted by the Federal Government were expected to benefit from the training programme.

The source learnt that the first batch of the 2,000 trainees would stay in the camp, up to six months.

But jobbers, contractors and petty traders were seen interacting freely with the trainers and beneficiaries of the training on transformational and non-violent behaviour.

Hawking by women and kids who roam freely or operate from what observer call ‘emergency kiosks’ were seen doing quick business.

Business-conscious residents of neighbouring Owakanda 1and 2, Mile 1, Imabana Itamtet, and Ikom communities had also joined in the rush to provide services where required.

Prices of beverages, cigarettes and alcoholic drinks have gone up within the camp.

A can of soft drink sells for N1.50 kobo, the same price for a can of beer in the camp.

The few available hotels in the area are fully booked and their charges for a night have also gone up.

Proprietors of restaurants, pubs and other hospitality businesses were seen making efforts to beef up stocks and take advantage of the opportunity.

The Tides source learnt that no fewer than 50 auxiliary workers, drawn from communities around the camp have been engaged as workers in the camp.

They are engaged as cleaners, cooks, dry cleaners and messengers, while some of the villagers were sighted at the camp soliciting for jobs.

One of the petty traders, Mrs Christiana Ojong, said the arrival of the trainees boosted business in the area.

“We are happy that we now recording sales, unlike before. In the next six months we will be busy because we expect plenty visitors.

“Initially we were afraid of the boys when they started coming into our villages. But now we are at home with them. But some of them are rash,’’ she said.

She said that traders woke up early to attend to the visitors and close late as the people were always around Obubra town having fun.

“We welcome what Federal Government has done by sending them here. They are our customers, they pay and cooperate.”

One of the female workers in the camp said the trainees did not embarrass them in camp.

“They did not really embarrass me, they were very strange at first and we were scared considering the story we heard about them.

“But today they are relating well with us and businesses are booming.

“Everywhere in town, people are selling from toilet soaps to drinks. To be frank, the people drink,’’ she said.

A youth leader from Ogada II village, Mr Chris Mbonga, said the arrival of the trainees was a good development.

According to him the community is playing a significant role in the history of the nation.

Mbonga, a trader based in Obubra, said, “initially, some of our people lived in fear since their arrival.

He, however, acknowledged that in the last couple of days, socio-economic activities and security within the communities had been beefed up.

Council Boss Impeached 48 Hours To LG Polls In Katsina

Published

1 week ago

February 14, 2025

The Tide

The Chairman of Malumfashi Local Government Council of Katsina State, Maharazu Dayi, has been impeached.
Maharazu Dayi was impeached yesterday by 11 out of 12 councillors, barely two days before the local government elections in the State.
The councillors reportedly took action following allegations of misconduct and poor governance against the chairman after a dispute over the distribution of the council’s Paris Club funds.
The development has sent shock waves across the local government area, especially as the impeached chairman is among those who failed to secure the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest in the forthcoming election.

Nation

Association Tasks Fubara On Rumuwoji Market Phase Three

Published

1 week ago

February 14, 2025

The Tide

The Rumuwoji Ultra Modern Market Traders Association, Mile 1, Port Harcourt, has urged the state government to utilise the available spaces within the area to build phase 3 of the Rumuwoji Market in order to solve the ever increasing needs of traders.
The association, which said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt, also described as a welcomed development the decision by the state Governor to open the phase 2 of the market for business.
According to the association, “We consider it as an answer to the various cries of the people, because he is a man on a mission who is out to place the interest of Rivers people first. It is a dream come true for the first time for the market to be dully allocated and open for business”
Chairman of the association, Hon Godspower Wobo, who briefed the press shortly after a meeting of the association in Port Harcourt, also urged the public to disregard the activities of some persons whose stock in trade is to cause disaffection in the market.
He said the attention of the association was drawn to the activities of some strange fellows who went about misforming the people about situation in the market, stressing that apart from his association, no other group exists in the market except subdiary unions.
Wobo also tasked the reallocation committee to tread with caution so as to avoid being deceived by any group.
According to him, time has come for the state government to engage in robust discussion with aggrieved shop owners who went to court and those who paid monies to the state coffers and issued with allocation certificates for the overall interest of peace.
He also advised the public to deal directly with his association, stressing that the meeting was to review activities for the last year as well as unveil their new Constitution.
Also speaking, former Chairman of the association, Deacon Kenneth Eze urged the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara to open the phase 2 of the market, as it is long overdue.
Eze who is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the association also urged the public to do business with only the Rumuwoji Ultra Modern Market Traders Association as it is the only union recognised by the traders.

Nation

AfDB President Denies 2027 Presidential Ambition

Published

1 week ago

February 14, 2025

The Tide

The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwunmi Adesina, has debunked reports linking him with the race for Nigeria’s presidency in 2027.
Reacting to the report on his X handle yesterday, following a recent interview with Arise TV, the AfDB boss said his quotes were misrepresented and misinterpreted in several Nigerian media reports.
However, the AfDB president denied the media reports, stating that he never said that he wanted to contest for President.
“A segment of my recent interview on @Arise TV has been both misinterpreted and misrepresented in several Nigerian media outlets. What I said was, “I will be available to serve in any capacity, globally, in Africa, anywhere, including my own country.”
“A listen to the substantive and robust interview, which is available online, will show this to be the case. For clarity and for the record, I did not say that I am running for the office of President of Nigeria,” Adesina said.