Despite the Thursday morning heavy downpour, personnel of the Rivers State Government began demolition of the popular Oginigba Slaughter Market in Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout, Port Harcourt.
The demolition was done amidst heavy security presence.
The area had been notorious for habouring criminal elements
Governor Nyesom Wike had in June announced the decision of his administration to demolish the market and relocate it to Mgboshimini at Rumueme.
Equipment for the demolition exercise were reportedly mobilized at about 4:00 PM on Wednesday, a day after the deadline given to the occupants of the market expired.
Occupants of the market had earlier appealed to the state government to extend the deadline pending the completion of the new Mgbuoshimini Slaughter Market.
State Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum, Usman Ibrahim, who spoke with newsmen on the development described the action of the government as a punishment.
He said the government should have come out before now to say it had need of the market space before shutting the market down for 17 months.
The Oginigba Slaughter Market was one of two popular markets that remained shut even after the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown was relaxed.
While the other, Oil Mill, has since been reopened for business, the state government insisted it will move the Oginigba Slaughter Market away from the industrial zone in keeping with its city renewal agenda.
