{"id":188,"date":"2026-10-12T09:51:28","date_gmt":"2026-10-12T09:51:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/12\/2027-nnaji-pledges-free-shops-for-traders-displaced-by-enugu-market-demolitions\/"},"modified":"2026-10-12T09:51:28","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T09:51:28","slug":"2027-nnaji-pledges-free-shops-for-traders-displaced-by-enugu-market-demolitions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/12\/2027-nnaji-pledges-free-shops-for-traders-displaced-by-enugu-market-demolitions\/","title":{"rendered":"2027: Nnaji pledges free shops for traders displaced by Enugu market demolitions"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Peoples Democratic Party<\/a><\/strong> (PDP) governorship candidate in Enugu State, Uche Nnaji, has promised to rebuild demolished markets in the state and provide free shops to affected traders if elected.<\/p>\n

Mr Nnaji also pledged to review the state\u2019s tax regime and abolish what he described as excessive and exploitative taxes to ease the burden on traders and small business owners.<\/p>\n

The former minister of Science, Technology and Innovation made the promises on Sunday while receiving a coalition of interest groups at his campaign office in Enugu.<\/p>\n

The delegation comprised leaders of the Arewa Northern Forum, traders and artisans displaced from Gariki Market, members of the Inter-Faith Council and leaders of non-indigene communities.<\/p>\n

Other stakeholders also attended the meeting, where the groups expressed solidarity with Mr Nnaji and lamented the hardship allegedly caused by market demolitions and multiple taxation.<\/p>\n

They also raised concerns about difficulties in securing trading spaces across the state.<\/p>\n

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\"Dangote<\/a><\/div>\n

Mr Nnaji said his administration would review the circumstances surrounding the demolitions and develop arrangements to restore the livelihoods of affected traders.<\/p>\n

He said the loss of businesses and sources of income had caused severe hardship for many families.<\/p>\n

The candidate insisted that government should prioritise wealth creation and citizens\u2019 welfare rather than implement policies that leave people destitute.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the experience people have had and the trauma they have gone through, I know for a fact that many people have died,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Mr Nnaji said his administration would comprehensively review the plight of traders whose shops had been demolished and consider building replacement markets.<\/p>\n

He explained that the proposed arrangements would partly depend on the resources available to the state government.<\/p>\n

However, he maintained that restoring the traders\u2019 means of livelihood would remain a priority.<\/p>\n

He said the party\u2019s emerging slogan, \u201cNo More Tax\u201d, reflected its commitment to addressing residents\u2019 and business operators\u2019 complaints about multiple taxation.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the first things we will do when we assume office is to remove these taxes so that our people can breathe fresh air once again.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur people are being suffocated by the burden they are carrying, and we want them to have relief,\u201d Mr Nnaji said.<\/p>\n

He also promised to address disputes involving filling stations located on land intended for markets.<\/p>\n

According to him, his administration would explore relocating such facilities to alternative sites to enable trading activities to resume.<\/p>\n

Mr Nnaji described trading as an integral part of the people\u2019s economic and social life, saying government policies should protect the sector.<\/p>\n

He further pledged to pursue an industrialisation programme focused on developing industries in the oil, cement, iron ore and steel sectors.<\/p>\n

He said the initiative would create jobs and stimulate economic activities across the state.<\/p>\n

According to him, industrial centres would be supported by residential estates and new urban communities designed to generate employment and improve living conditions.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are looking at opportunities in oil, cement, iron ore and steel, with plans to make progress within two years. These industries will create substantial employment, both directly and indirectly.<\/p>\n

\u201cAround the industrial centres, we intend to establish estates and develop new cities. These will be employment-generating urban centres that can support economic growth and improve people\u2019s living conditions,\u201d Mr Nnaji added.<\/p>\n

The PDP candidate also disclosed that his administration was considering free medical care for elderly residents aged between 65 and 70.<\/p>\n

He said his ambition was not to accumulate wealth through public office but to lay a foundation for a better future for young people in Enugu State.<\/p>\n

Remarks by leader of the Arewa Northern Forum<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Earlier, the leader of the Arewa Northern Forum, Innocent Iwual, said the association had existed for 19 years and had members across the state.<\/p>\n

Mr Iwual said members of the northern community had participated in previous elections but were disappointed by what he described as politicians\u2019 unfulfilled promises after assuming office.<\/p>\n

READ ALSO:\u00a02027: Amid forgery trial, Uche Nnaji drops degree claim in INEC filing, opts for WAEC<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

He urged Mr Nnaji to recognise non-indigenes\u2019 contributions to the state\u2019s political and economic life and ensure they were not neglected.<\/p>\n

Also speaking, a PDP chieftain, Basil Ani, said the gathering brought together traders affected by market demolitions.<\/p>\n

Mr Ani said non-indigenes were also among those who attended to express their support for Mr Nnaji.<\/p>\n

Dogged by forgery scandal<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The former minister has been dogged by forgery scandal.<\/p>\n

He resigned as minister on 7 October last year, three days after PREMIUM TIMES published<\/a><\/strong> an investigation revealing that the then-minister forged his University of Nigeria, Nsukka degree and NYSC<\/a><\/strong> certificates, which he submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.<\/p>\n

The anti-graft agency ICPC<\/a><\/strong> is prosecuting<\/a><\/strong> Mr Nnaji at a Federal High Court, Abuja, for certificate forgery and money laundering.<\/p>\n

(NAN)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Enugu State, Uche Nnaji, has promised to rebuild demolished markets in the state and provide free shops to affected traders if elected.… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-188","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=188"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=188"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=188"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}