Celebration as Anambra community gets modern market

It was a moment of celebration in Ogboji town in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State following the construction and handing over of newly completed ultramodern market retail and lock-up shops to the community.

The market constructed by the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase

One (ATASP-1), a federal government special agriculture intervention initiative was in fulfillment of the yearnings of leaders and people of the area to have where they could trade unhindered.

Speaking during the commissioning, Zonal Programme Coordinator, ATASP-1 Adani-Omor Crops Processing Zone, Mr Romanus Egba, said the facility was built with grants from African Development Bank (AfDB) group and state government’s counterpart funds.

He said the decision to construct the market followed an appeal by the community that a modern market would be more beneficial to them.

“Apart from supporting our farmers who cultivate rice, cassava or sorghum to attain maximum yields and create employment opportunities along the value chain, we also provide social infrastructure and support services that enable them to sell their produce and attain better living standards.

“Initially, we wanted to drill a borehole in the community to provide clean water for them, but we discovered that traders in the market do not have a roof over them and were easily exposed to the elements,” he said.

He called for equitable allocation of stalls and shops as well as proper maintenance of the market, including the toilets.