Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, on Friday, commissioned Solution Arena fruits and vegetables market comprising over 65 lockup and open shops at Oye toro market, Umuowelle village, Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area (LGA).
Oye toro market previously moribund, was rebuilt by the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACDTA), with a view to accommodate petty traders dealing on vegetables and fruits, including groundnuts, spinach, grape fruits, yams, apples, banana, oranges and others.
Governor Soludo while commissioning the project, praised the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO), Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACDTA), Hon. Osita Onuko for embarking on the project at Agulu.
Soludo, while recalling that ACTDA had few months ago, sited similar project at Abakaliki street, Okpuno, Awka South Council Area, described it as a worthwhile venture, adding that Onuko was a wise man and supportive of his administration's efforts to end poverty and uplift the cause of the masses.
According to him, the market would help to end streets trading while decongesting traffic along Agulu-Ekwulobia and Agulu-Nnewi roads and their environs.
He, therefore, urged the management of Solution Arena Fruits and Vegetables market to be transparent in allocating the stalls and shops to interested traders for free in the spirit of be your brothers and sisters keeper (onye aghana nwanne ya), the philosophy of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and Igbo nation.
"ACTDA under this young man (Osita Onuko) is doing a great job. After siting Solutions Arena fruits and vegetables at Okpuno, he quickly sited this one here to show you that Agulu is part of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority. We don't want our women to be trading under the sun and rain, and along the streets.
"This project will help to decongest traffics at Nwagu. ACTDA has used Agulu to set a modal for other communities without such to see it as a model," he added noting that basic amenities such as toilets, borehole, 24 hours solar powered lights, among others were provided to give the facility a facelift.
Also speaking, some of the petty traders, Mrs Maria Okoye and Mrs Odinaka Uche, who joined the governor in cutting the tape /commissioning the project, expressed happiness over the kind gesture, assuring the governor optimum utilisation of the facility as well as support for his reelection in 2025.
Other speakers, including the Chairman of Anaocha LGA, Hon. Romans Ibekwe, and the members representing Anaocha 1 and Anaocha 2 at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Nkechi Ogbuefi and Hon. Ejjike Okoye took out time to appreciate the governor for his various developmental projects in Agulu, assuring their support to the government.