Market women in Calabar, yesterday, took to the Murtala Muhammed Highway in protest, demanding that a relocated market be returned to its former location at 8 miles.
The protest disrupted vehicular movement as the women, numbering over 300, blocked the major road that leads out of Calabar.
They accused one ‘Boy O Boy’ of being behind movement from the 8miles market to Ikot Eneobong market, which is also along 8miles.
The women lamented that they hardly make sales at the Ikot Eneobong market because of the location. They also give high and multiple taxation and bad road network as reasons.
According to the women, they pay as much as N40,000 for space to market their goods.
They also accused the Chairman of Calabar municipality, Mr. Effefiong Nta of conniving with Boy O Boy to frustrate them.
When contacted, Nta denied the allegation, stating that the former market is a dangerous site.
He said: “What we did was sensitising them and relocating them to the main market, that former market is an eyesore and the activities were hazardous. A private individual owns that particular property and market operates on government land and not on individual property.
“The issue of the N40.000 is a big lie. My instruction was to relocate them to the new market without collecting money,” the council chairman explained.
