By Francis Sadhere, Warri

Warri South Council Chairman, Dr Micheal Tidi, on Tuesday commissioned an Ultra-Modern Market with 110 Lock-Up Stalls and 120 Open Market Stalls renovated and built by the council in Ugbuwangue Community.

Dr.Tidi, who spoke during the ceremony said the essence of renovating the 110 lock-up stalls handed over to the council by Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, under his leadership and the construction of an additional 120 open market stalls, was to change the narrative of Warri from negativity in all sectors to positivity.

He said this was n line with his administration’s policy of enhancing the socio-economic fortunes of the local government area.

While stressing that the desire to accommodate the traders that had hitherto been in the market without shops informed expansion of the market, Dr. Tidi expressed optimism that the once moribund Warri Port, will soon experience beehive of economic activities and as such needs an ultra-modern market as this.

He disclosed that in the next few weeks, the second Warri Economic Summit will be staged by the council to consolidate on the gains of the maiden edition.

The Chairman appealed to people of Warri South to contribute their quota towards the development of the council area and enjoined indigenes of Ugbuwangue Community as well as the traders to maintain the market and other infrastructural projects executed in the community.

The Managing Director of DESOPADEC, Bashorun Askia Ogieh, in his remarks, described the inauguration of the new market as a classified example of positive synergy between agencies of government.

The Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state, Barr. Ada Val Arenyeka, the Head (Olare-Aja) of Ugbuwangue Community, Prince Agindotan Yonwuren and leader of the traders in the market, Mrs. Stella Izuagie, commended the Tidi’s led administration for making the market a reality, despite initial challenges.

Chairman of DESOPADEC, Hon. Michael Diden, Hon. Daniel Mayuku, Hon. Griftson Omatsuli, three prominent Warri Chiefs, Warri South PDP Chairman, Mr. Johnson Agbeyegbe, other PDP Chieftains and community leaders, graced the ceremony.

Dore (Main) Igbudu and Pessu Markets as well as Ogbe-Ijoh Market, which was recently taken over by the Dr. Michael Tidi administration, are the other major markets in the commercial city of Warri.