Jubilation In Marian Market As New Market Committee Restores Power Supply After Four Years

By Ayo Ubana

Traders and market women at the Ika Ika Oqua market popularly known as Marian Market are in a jubilant mood following the restoration of electricity supply in the market after about four years of blackout.

Already, the restoration of power supply at the market has rejuvenated the level of commercial activities which has been at its lowest ebb since the shopping arena was disconnected in 2021 by Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company over non-payment of bills.

Speaking to The Beagle News, Chairman of the management committee overseeing the running of the market on behalf of Calabar Municipal Council, Elder Ekpo Edet said, "We inherited a market in filthy sanitary conditions and total blackout. Traders dealing in perishable goods were spending a fortune on petrol to run their generators in the day while spending on cold rooms too to preserve their commodities like tomatoes and frozen livestock, we needed to act to change the narrative.

"Since the trader was skeptical about contributing to offset the outstanding indebtedness owing to their experience with the previous market committee which allegedly misappropriated over two million nairas generated in the name of clearing unpaid bills and heaps of waste generated from the market we had to source for funds to add up and restore power supply."

Narrating their experiences, traders who spoke lauded the new market team for the tremendous effort in ensuring that PHED reconnected the market stressing that the development will minimize the cost of doing business at the market.