BY Benson Okobi-allanah
SAVED by the tiniest and slimmest of chance of slipping into the small running brook which water looks blackish as a result of its long pollution, this reporter was saved the agony of being drenched and would have returned to his base fully smeared with different patches of eye-sores, but for his guide that quickly got hold of him.
The tiny but busy brook is the one that separates Oko and Okwe link road in the Asaba capital territory that leads to the major cow slaughter at Oko Market in Asaba.
Here, vehicles, okada, keke, wheelbarrows and human beings struggle and try to avoid colliding with one another they try to enter into both communities for one mission or the other.
Our investigations revealed that during rainy season Okwe residents and Asaba find it more difficult entering into Oko Market, Asaba, which is just a stone throw to them than other residents of the city living far off the market due to the rising brook given impetus by the rain that fall and the overflowing River Niger, thus, preventing buyers from Okwe from entering into the market to make some purchases like cow meat and other food items.
The Chairman of Butchers Association, Oko market, Asaba, Alhaji Malam told Friday Treat, it is the reason why they record low sales compared to lucrative business they enjoy during dry season when the road is passible.
He called on the government to construct a bridge that can take vehicles and others walking on foot across it without entering fear of being swept off by the murky waters from the brook that turns turbulent during rainy season.
Collaborating what the Chairman said, the Secretary of the Butchers Association, Nafiu Abubakar and another butcher, Useni Abubakar, said it would be most appreciated if the governments at the local and state level come to their aid in putting the perennial problem of flloding in Oko Market, under control, saying that they hardly make any tangible sales during the rainy season. They added that in all the market in Asaba Capital Territory, Oko Market, Asaba, suffer most from flood.
Some market men and women, who pleaded anonymity, said since the rainy season began, sales have been at its lowest ebb.
‘’We just manage to come to avoid being idle at home; the children have to eat, and our own side as parents, we have to meet up with bills like house rents, electricity/water bills, the children’s’ school fees and what have you. So, staying at home will not provide all these you know.
‘’So, we are calling on the government to come to our aid by providing us all we need in this market. We know the location is affecting us. When we were in the old Hausa Market we enjoyed it. There was nothing like of fear of rain affecting us; or, the fear of dust giving us catarrh during dry season.
‘’We used to sell well, and things were very okay then. All of a sudden the government came and relocated us to this part of the city that is waterlogged, saying they want to build another market there before bringing us back. We are still waiting. A good number of traders don’t come to the market again, either succeeded in relocating to other markets in Asaba, or waiting until the rains are over and the dry season sets in’’ they said.
