FROM VISION TO REALISATION: INTERNATIONAL MARKET, IKOT EKPENE COMES ALIVE

FROM VISION TO REALISATION: INTERNATIONAL MARKET, IKOT EKPENE COMES ALIVE

…as flagship project is set for flag-off today

By Solomon Essiet

To many, the ongoing construction of the International Market in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area may look like just another project. But for the political leaders of the area who have pursued government intervention to attract an International Market to the locality since 2011, it is the fulfilment of a long-held dream. That dream is now receiving full government attention under the administration of His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, PhD, Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

In an interview, one of the foremost political leaders in the area, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, revealed that the idea of establishing an International Market in Ikot Ekpene to serve the State, the Federal Constituency, the Senatorial District, and indeed the entire state was conceived as far back as 2011, during the administration of His Excellency, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, as Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

In 2011, the leaders of Ikot Ekpene LGA made a formal presentation on the International Market to Governor Akpabio, and the project was adopted for execution. The next step was to finalise the location. The first site considered was in Atan Community, Essien Udim LGA, but disagreement from some quarters led to that option being dropped. An attempt to site the project along the Ikot Ekpene–Aba Road also met resistance from stakeholders, forcing everyone back to the drawing board.

After careful consideration of site suitability, accessibility, and proximity to other existing markets, a decision was made to locate the International Market along the Calabar–Itu Road, covering three communities: Ibiakpan, Utu Ikot Essien, and Utu Ikot Ekpenyong. With unanimous agreement from all stakeholders and a formal site recommendation submitted to the Government of Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, the State Government swiftly acquired the site in 2012 through an official publication. However, the host community instituted a court case against the State Government, leading to prolonged litigation which stalled further progress on the project for years.

As Pastor Umo Bassey Eno sought to become Governor of Akwa Ibom State, stakeholders from Ikot Ekpene LGA did not waste time during his 2022 campaign visit to tell him that the number one project they wanted was the construction of the International Market. Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, then the gubernatorial candidate of his party, left with a promise to construct the International Market if the people voted and supported him to emerge as Governor in 2023.

Buoyed by that assurance, the people of Ikot Ekpene LGA joined their counterparts across the state and supported his emergence. He was sworn in on May 29, 2023, as the 4th democratically elected Governor of Akwa Ibom State since the return of democracy in 1999.

Governor Eno, a promise keeper with a finisher’s anointing, accepted the responsibility to resolve the challenges around land acquisition and final settlement with the host communities. Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, Hon. Elder Aniefiok Nkom, Chairman of Ikot Ekpene LGA, Hon. Jerry Otu, member representing Ikot Ekpene and Obot Akara State Constituency, and other stakeholders from Ikot Ekpene LGA championed negotiations with the host communities of Ibiakpan, Utu Ikot Essien, and Utu Ikot Ekpenyong. The engagement led to the withdrawal of court cases and letters of commitment from the villages involved, availing the government the opportunity to take over the land.

The Governor Umo Eno-led administration conducted a fresh survey of the property, about 31 hectares of land, settled the host communities, and completed the acquisition. Governor Eno also awarded the International Market project to a contractor who emerged through the state’s bidding process. The internal roads were awarded to a separate contractor. As we speak, construction work is ongoing at the site. The perimeter fence, internal roads within the market premises, and the buildings where various traders will operate are all undergoing speedy construction.

Speaking with the Village Chairman of one of the host communities, Mr. Timothy Inwang of Utu Ikot Ekpenyong, he confirmed that the host communities have been settled and compensation duly paid by the State Government. He expressed satisfaction with how the leaders of the area and the government handled the matter, leading to a peaceful takeover of the land. He added that siting the International Market within their community is a welcome development, as it will attract more people and fast-track the community’s development. According to him, members of the host communities stand to gain a great deal from the International Market when completed.

The State Government describes it as an ultra-modern International Market designed to tackle poor infrastructure and unsafe trading conditions for traders. On its purpose and economic goal, Governor Umo Bassey Eno’s commitment to accelerate infrastructure and commercial development in Ikot Ekpene is aimed at linking the LGA with major interstate hubs, thereby boosting the local economy.

Strategically located in the heart of the town, the market is being developed as a modern trading centre aimed at easing congestion, improving business conditions, and attracting both local and international traders. With ongoing construction of stalls, warehouses, and access roads, the market is being positioned to handle higher volumes of trade while offering a better experience for traders and customers alike.

One of the immediate gains of the project is employment generation, as youths in the area will be gainfully engaged. The International Market will create income and other opportunities for the teeming youth population. Traders will experience increased patronage for their wares, as businessmen from neighbouring states will be able to conduct their businesses within the market, offering greater accessibility, visibility, and patronage. For many households in the area, the market will become a stable source of daily income.

For Akwa Ibom State as a whole, the International Market in Ikot Ekpene will strengthen its position as a commercial hub within the South-South region. The location offers an ideal distribution point for goods and commodities moving across different trade regions, such as the Eastern Region and the Southern zones. This advantage attracts producers, transporters, and wholesalers who depend on efficient logistics.

The people of Ikot Ekpene LGA are grateful to Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, PhD, for fulfilling his campaign promise and siting the International Market in Ikot Ekpene LGA.

Pastor Solomon Essiet, ACIA
Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State