By Vincent Ujumadu
Controversy is trailing the billions of naira allegedly generated from the allocation of shops at the Agbedo Motor Parts Market in the industrial town of Nnewi, with some stakeholders questioning the whereabouts of the money several months after the allocation exercise.
A prominent Nnewi businessman had alleged that the over N4 billion realized from the allocation of shops at the market was misappropriated and shared as political patronage.
However, the Chairman of the Market, Mr. Kennedy Oguaju wondered why people should be making unsubstantiated allegation on issues concerning the project, which he described as wholly a private initiative of the traders. “The market was financed and owned by traders and executed through a contractor appointed by the market committee”, Oguaju said.
Reacting on the issue, the chairman of Nnewi North Local Government Area, Hon. Echezona Anazodo, said he was surprised to see a viral video alleging that he was involved in the allocation of the shops, insisting that the council had no financial involvement in the privately executed market development project. According to Anazodo, neither he nor the council collected or managed any funds connected with the Agbedo Motor Parts Market project.
“I did not collect any money from anybody. Neither I nor the local government received or managed any funds for that project.
“We were aware of the project and facilitated its implementation, but the work itself was carried out by a contractor appointed by the market committee.
“I encourage members of the public to visit the project site and speak with the people directly involved. They should investigate what actually transpired and verify whether any money was paid to the local government,” he said.
Anazodo acknowledged that Agbedo Motor Parts Market project was a private arrangement between the market stakeholders, who own the property, and a contractor engaged by the market committee, adding that the local government’s role was limited to providing security and creating an enabling environment for the execution of the project.
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