Leaders of Mgbom Na Achara Autonomous Community, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, have thrown their weight behind the planned reconstruction of Nkwo Echara Market into an international daily market.
However, they insist on due compensation for landowners and affected families.
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In a letter addressed to the Executive Chairman of Ohaozara LGA, the community, represented by its President General, Philip Eze, Chairman, Town Union, Chief Aja Nwanto, Secretary-General, Udechukwu Obaji, Women Leader, Chinwendu Chukwunyere, Youth President, Anayochukwu Wilson, and Chairman, Okposi Achara, Barnabas Nwogbuba, acknowledged the importance of the project.
Then, they called on the government to address historical grievances before proceeding with construction.
“We appreciate the Executive Chairman of Ohaozara Local Government and indeed the good people of Okposi Ezinaasato for the plan to reconstruct the Nkwo Echara Market into a daily international market,” the letter stated.
Notwithstanding, they stressed that “for the sake of equity, fairness, and justice,” the local government must compensate the rightful landowners, many of whom lost their ancestral homes and economic trees when the market was originally established.
Tracing the history of the market, the letter noted that Nkwo Echara Market was originally a branch of Ogwumabiri Market in Amata, where the people of Mgbom Na Achara traded their farm produce.
The community revealed that their ancestors sacrificed their land to establish the market for the collective development of Okposi.
However, disputes began when a former Supervisory Councillor for Works, in the LGA, allegedly extended the market boundaries beyond the agreed limits and appropriated portions of the land for personal use.
“In his efforts to develop the market, he went beyond the boundary shown to Okposi Ezinaasato by Mgbom Na Achara people when the idea of the market was first conceived,” the letter stated.
The community further alleged that the politician used his government position to intimidate landowners. “Having successfully appropriated about two acres of land to himself in the name of government, he proceeded to build a filling station, a hotel, and some other buildings,” the letter stated.
Given the historical injustices surrounding the market’s development, Mgbom Na Achara community has outlined several demands to the local government before work on the reconstruction commences.
Their demands include that some funds should be paid to the community to enable them appease and relocate the existing four ancient and traditional shrines situated within Nkwo Echara Market.
They further demand “A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the community and the government to define the rights and benefits of both parties and permission for affected families to rebuild their ancestral homes in line with government-approved specifications.”
The community emphasised that they are not against the development of the market but want fairness and inclusion in the project.
“The entire people of Mgbom Na Achara Autonomous Community wholeheartedly accept the construction and transformation of Nkwo Echara into an international daily market,” the letter reiterated.
They also urged the local government to provide the official survey plan of the market “in order to avoid encroachment into private lands” and to ensure a peaceful and transparent process.