Traders at the popular GSM Village Market, Enugu have called on Governor Peter Mbah to intervene and stop the alleged plot by some individuals using the name of the state government to forcefully relocate them into a private mall in the state capital.

The traders also rejected the motion reportedly passed by the Enugu State House of Assembly, which urged the state government to relocate them to the Trade Fair Shopping Complex, Gulf Estate GRA, Enugu.

The traders insisted that the new location is a private venture, which has nothing to do with the government.

Some of the traders, who spoke to newsmen in Enugu weekend expressed shock that the state house of assembly acceded to the deceit by some real estate individuals to pass a motion to relocate them to a private complex.

They said the owners of the complex packaged it as though the government was the one proposing the relocation in order to attract heavy patronage to their real estate business from the members of the public.

One of the traders at the GSM Village, Enugu, Martin Uchenna Agbo, said, “We recently got information that the House of assembly has passed a motion urging the state government to relocate us to a private property somewhere at Gulf Estate, GRA, Enugu.

“The assembly motion came to us as a surprise because they made it look as if the state governor is giving us a new allocation for us to relocate.

“We’re aware that if the state government wants to embark on such ventures, they will first earmark a place, and inform the concerned traders about it, and then throw the allocation open for all at a very affordable price. The government will equally give you a design of what to build so that there won’t be indiscriminate building. That’s the procedure we are aware of.

“But what we noticed is that some individuals want to establish a phone complex inside that place. But it is a private enterprise. It is not a state government project. The government has not allocated anywhere to us. (The Nation)