Mid Febuary, the over five year old Mararaba market was demolished and many believe that a good change was in the air. Patience Ihejirika and Blessing Ukemena went to investigate the latest developments in the Mararaba market.

When demolition of illegal structures was carried out in Mararaba, mid February, it was welcomed with mixed feelings. The petty traders were disgruntled but were displaced as they were mostly affected, while other residents and commuters were thankful for it believing that it would help reduce the traffic congestion around the famous Mararaba bus stop.

The Nasarawa state governor, Tanko Al-Makura, had then promised that a new road was to be constructed, leading into the Aso-Mararaba settlement but that is yet to be seen. It has been six months and some of the petty traders are still there while the traffic congestion is just a little different from what it used to be.

Speaking with some traders at the Mararaba market, they were still unsatisfied with the present situation. Mr Cornelius who sells palm oil by the road said gave his opinion. "When the governor came, we thought that after the demolition that in at most three months, this road will be worked on. Up till now, we are yet to see anything. How then will the people believe in the government?.

Another lady who sells foodstuff in the market, Madam Charity, also spoke. "If you come to Mararaba just after a rainfall, it is so bad. The whole place will be muddy. Cars will be splashing people with mud. They recently put a chain along the road and the traders there have reduced but was it necessary? They just destroyed people's means of livelihood for nothing. We thought the road will be constructed so that it will help reduce traffic congestion but government's things are always like that".

Mr. Hassan A. Ogbole, special assistant to the Nasarawa state government on development control shed some light on what has delayed the road and what is to happen to the market "The demolition took place because those attachments were an eye sore, a misfit on the environment. The Mararaba market by the road is land belonging to an individual. So, even if trader are there now and selling under umbrellas, we cannot demolish umbrellas and we will deal with that in our own way. If you have noticed, a fence has been constructed not far from the road where the market used to be. This is good because it has helped curb the number of traders doing business close to the road.

The governor is very concerned about the Mararaba-Aso road so much that he is pressurising the contractor to shift to the outer part of the road so that his presence will be felt. They were working from inside the Aso area to the road but on bridges inside the road. That Aso rod links up with Keffi road by Panda. It will help shorten the distance for travellers when going to Jos. The contractors are saying that there is not much they can do because the road is not wide enough to work on."

Mr Ogole stated that the contractors said that, "There are certain structures along the road side that will be demolished very soon to enable them work with the proper width. The governor said that the contractors should concentrate on where the population is. The contractors are there on site as we speak. So, the road is ongoing. It is just some issues of policy that is holding it back. However, we will make sure that anytime from now, those structures will be demolished so that the road construction will commence".

Mr. Inusa Gwaza whose electronic shop was not affected by the demolition at the Mararaba market, said that they thought the demolition was to reduce the traffic congestion. "Look at this place Once it is 7pm, you find traffic as long as from here to Sharp Corner. If they can create a place for these buses to park like those Subsidy Buses in Nyanya, then it would be better," he said.

Mr. Ogole also made comments on the motor parks on the road shoulders "That of the Abuja Subsidy park was accidental. Nasarawa is taking the brunt of the Abuja policy They did not relate with us on the matter when they made their policy. So, we did not have time to provide alternative parks for the buses that were sent out of Abuja. The park they have at the Nyanya bridge is purely accidental but we do not have that kind of opportunity. So, who do we eject to create a park for the so many buses along this route?

In our own way, we are just trying to cope with the situation. If you check, now there are some police men assisting us to control the traffic. On our own part, we have been collaborating with the National Union of Road Transport Workers. We provide these reflective jackets. The Nasarawa government want to provide a towing van so that any vehicle that is parked wrongly or abandoned and even those picking passengers by the road sides will have their vehicles impounded and the owner made to pay penalty.

Some of the shop owners also have cars and they may bring in these long lorries to offload causing traffic congestion. These are the things that cause us problems along this road. We want to put in place some order but it is a policy issue and may take a little time to be implemented." It is hoped that the Nasarawa state government will make good its promise so that both commuters and residents along that route will breathe a sigh of relief.