Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has announced plans to reconstruct the Creek Road Market in old Port Harcourt Township into a modern trading complex.
The proposed facility aims to provide traders with a more conducive environment while enhancing the city’s aesthetic appeal.
Fubara emphasized that this initiative aligns with his administration’s Urban Renewal Policy, which prioritizes improving the quality of life for residents.
He noted that the project would contribute to the broader goal of restoring Port Harcourt’s reputation as the Garden City.
The governor made this commitment during a visit to the market on Tuesday, where he assessed trading activities along Creek Road and surrounding areas.
He expressed concerns about the current state of trading, noting that achieving a sustainable and equitable urban environment requires confining such activities to designated spaces.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, Fubara reiterated that the transformation of Port Harcourt into a liveable and orderly city is integral to his administration’s development agenda.
Fubara said: “You are aware that some weeks ago, a committee was inaugurated for the redevelopment of Port Harcourt Township.
“Since then, I have been getting a lot of calls from the old boys of Port Harcourt Township that, if we have to do anything, first of all, we need to sort out the issue of market.”
Fubara cited the absence of a deliberate plan to restore their trading environment after its relocation.
The Governor recalled that during the reconstruction of Creek Road under the previous administration, traders were temporarily relocated to No. 3 Field.
However, following the completion of the road project, no measures were taken to rebuild the market or return traders to their original site.
He said, “We are aware of that when Creek Road was reconstructed, the market was relocated to No 3 Field, and it affected the face of the Town.
“So, I came here myself with the Commissioner for Housing, Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Chairman of the Committee for the Re-urbanization of Port Harcourt Township, and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), to see for ourselves what we can do immediately.
“I can say here that the first thing we are going to do immediately before we start the cleaning and the redesigning of Port Harcourt Township, is to make sure that we give them (traders) a befitting market.
“With that, we can immediately move those people out of those residential areas so we can commence beautifying the town,” he stressed.
Recognizing that government is a continuum, Fubara assured that his administration will do everything possible to make sure that Creek Road traders are settled in an appropriate and befitting market.
