By Edward Iwerinwa Okoh
The road leading to Ekuku Agbor Market has always been familiar to me.
Like many people in Ika South Local Government Area, I have passed through it countless times. I have seen traders arrive before sunrise to arrange their wares , watch buyers bargain and haggle over prices with remarkable skill, and observe buses, motorcycles and wheelbarrows compete for space as commercial activities gather momentum.
Markets have a rhythm of their own. They come alive before most people leave their homes, and throughout the day they remain places where livelihoods are earned, relationships are built, and communities interact.
Ekuku Agbor Market has always been one of those places.
For decades, it remained one of the busiest commercial centres in Ika South. Farmers bring their harvests there. Traders travel from neighbouring communities to buy and sell. Transport operators depend on its daily activities , while food vendors, artisans and small business owners earn a living because the market exist.
Yet, despite its importance, the market never truly reflect the commercial strength of the people who depend on it.
Many traders operate from makeshift stalls. During the rainy season, muddy pathways became part of everyday life. Moving from one section of the market to another often mean avoiding puddles, navigating slippery ground and trying to protect goods from the inclement weather.
It is a situation many people gradually accepted. Perhaps because it lasted for so many years, it became easy to believe that nothing would change.
A few days ago, I decided to visit the market where the government of Ika South is investing heavily in building new shops, stores and several other facilities.
I had seen photographs and read reports about the construction. They offered a glimpse of what was happening , but being physically present gave an entirely different perspective.
The first thing that caught my attention was the level of activities. Construction was progressing steadily. Bricklayers carefully aligned fresh bricks. Carpenters moved from one section to another, carrying different forms of timber products. Welders worked with concentration as sparks flashed beneath partially completed roofs. Electricians discussed measurements while unskilled labourers conveyed building materials across the site.
Everywhere I looked, people were working. The sounds of construction echoed across the site. It was obvious that this was not an abandoned project or one existing only on paper. Progress could be seen from one section to another. Standing there, it became easier to picture what the completed market would look like.
Rows of shops stretched across different sections. Wide walkways were already taking shape. The layout suggested a market designed to improve movement for both traders and customers.
It was easy to imagine the day business would begin in earnest.
As I continued walking, I noticed an elderly woman standing quietly, watching the progress of work. She looked like someone who had spent many years around the market.
After exchanging greetings, I asked what she thought about the project.
She smiled while looking across the construction site. She simply said,
“This place will never remain the same again.”
It was not a long speech. Just one sentence that carried the hopes of many traders who have waited years to see better trading conditions.
Her words stayed with me.
Around us, younger traders discussed where they hoped their shops would be located when construction is completed. Some talked about having enough space to display their goods properly. Others believed more customers would visit because people naturally prefer markets that are clean, organised and accessible.
Their conversation revolved around businesses, opportunities and the future.
Listening to them reminded me that markets are much more than structures. Every successful trading day helps parents pay school fees. It keeps food on the tables. It supports transport operators, farmers , food vendors, artisans and countless others whose livelihoods depend on commercial activities.
A vibrant market creates opportunities for far more people than those who own shops. That is why investments in public markets deserve attention.
When completed , the Ekuku Agbor Market will provide more than 480 open and lock-up shops.
For many people, that may simply be a number.
For traders, it represents something much more. It means better protection for their goods and operating in a cleaner environment.
It equally means welcoming customers into an environment planned to support business growth.
Walking further into the site, I paused again to observe the artisans.
Each person had a responsibility. While some mixed concrete, others fixed roofing components.
Construction sites have a language of their own.
Every completed section tells the story of many hands working together.
Looking around , I also thought about the number of families already benefiting from the project before its completion.
Every artisan working there earns income. Suppliers provide building materials. Transporters move supplies. Food vendors serve workers throughout the day.
Economic activity begins long before a project is commissioned.
As more traders eventually occupy the completed market, those opportunities will continue to spread across the local economy.
For generations, markets have connected farmers with consumers. They have linked neighbouring communities, encouraged enterprise and strengthened local economies.
Ekuku Agbor Market belongs to that tradition. Its importance goes beyond buying and selling. It represents hard work , enterprise and the determination of ordinary men and women who wake each day believing that honest labour can provide a better future for their families.
Those people deserve a market that supports their efforts.
As I walked towards the exit, more residents arrived to observe the construction. Some took photographs. Others simply stood quietly, watching the work.
Their expressions suggested optimism.
Naturally, expectations remain high. Residents will look forward to seeing the project completed on schedule.
Good sanitation, effective drainage, proper maintenance and adequate security will all contribute to the long-term success of the market.
These expectations do not diminish what is already taking shape. Rather, they reflect the desire of the people to see the project achieve its full potential.
The administration of Engr. Jerry Ehiwarior deserves recognition for embarking on a project of this scale.
Years from now, traders are more likely to remember the opportunities this market created for their businesses and families.
They will remember receiving the keys to their shops. They will remember opening for businesses in a cleaner, more organised environment. They will remember customers returning with confidence.
Those are the memories that endure because they become part of everyday life.
As I left Ekuku Agbor that afternoon , I looked back one last time. The elderly trader was still standing where I had met her. Workers remained busy. Vehicles arrived with building materials.
The future market was steadily emerging through the efforts of everyone on site.
Once again, her words echoed in my mind.
“This place will never remain the same again.”
Looking at what is already standing today, it is easy to understand why she said so.
