No fewer than two hundred shops at the popular Marian Market, Calabar have been demolished by the Cross River State Government with the affected traders calling for immediate compensation.
The shops located within the main market in Calabar Municipal Local Government Area Council, according to the Ministry of Environment were illegally built on the drainage and caused incessant floods in the area.
The affected traders who were seen running to pick the pieces of their goods,however said despite the short notice given to them,the state and local government representatives did not consider the harsh economic situation in the country before embarking on such demolitions.
They urged the state government to compensate them so as to ameliorate the suffering that will come with the demolition of their shops.
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Cross River State Commissioner for Environment, Mfon Bassey and the Chairman of Calabar Municipality Area Council, Eke Effiong-Nta who led the demolition at the Market, said the exercise became necessary because the drainages around the market have been blocked.
They said the demolished structures were illegally constructed without permission.
Some part of the Marian Market was destroyed by late-night fire, a few months ago, a development some of the traders said was the reason for the illegal shops.
(Editor: Abaje Usekwe)
