Prince Thomas Abi Jr|15 February 2016|6:00pm
Okuku market is a popular open-air market in Okuku, Yala, Local Government Area of Cross River State. It is known for its sales of yams, garri, livestock, palm oil, and vegetables.
The market is a mixture such that it has a segment for the sale of rice, beans, tomato, pepper, in stores and open spaces.
Many years ago, the economic activities of the people of the Northern part of Cross River State was very viable due to the famous Okuku Market.
Okuku market is about the oldest and biggest market in Cross River and neighboring Akwa Ibom State. It was a market that many people looked up to, to buy their needs. But over the years the market has become a shadow of it's self.
The market had customers coming all over Nigeria to buy yams, garri, palm oil, goat, clothes, building materials, household appliances and many more. The market gave the people of the region the needed opportunity to explore and have access to modern day facilities. But that is not the case any more of the famous Okuku Market as it has lost its glory.
The government of Cross River State has a responsibility of rebranding the market in order to compete favorably with other international markets in the country.
The Okuku Market should be given adequate attention. I remember sometime ago I was at Ibadan and I needed to get some items, I was asked to go to the famous Bodijah Market. The Okuku market must be equipped in order for businesses to thrive. The Okuku Market should be the reference point of people around northern and central part of Cross River State.
The market should be able to compete favorably with big markets such as Ogbete main market in Enugu, Bodijah market in Ibadan , Balogun market in Lagos and the Onitsha main market in Onitsha
The Okuku market needs good stores, electricity, good road network within the market, security and water. Let it be known that the market if given proper attention has the capacity to generate huge revenue for the government of Cross River State. The market needs to have good parking space, a tole gate, an enabling environment for banks and other financial institutions to set up their businesses there.
The government of Cross River must as a matter of urgency open the market by repairing the Yahe-Okpoma-Okuku road. This road has caused a major set back for customers who troop into the market from the Eastern part of Nigeria. Also, there is the need to attract investments into the Okuku Market by collaborating with business men in the Eastern part of Nigeria.
The Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Investment, should speedily carry out a needs assessment of the market and thrive to see how the market can be revived.
Let it be known that the Okuku Market, if probably opened and utilized can sustain the Cross River Garment Factory. Today, many tailors in the Northern and Central parts of Cross River go to Onitsha to get materials and other costumes but by the time the market is utilized, many business men/women and customers will no longer travel to the East but rather buy from Okuku Market. This will generate a lot of revenue for the government and also generate more income to local tailors around the region.
The Okuku market has the capacity to generate huge revenue for government. The market can attract economic activities to the Northern part of Cross River State and it environs. It is a market that must be given the needed attention for Cross River State to boom in terms of trade, commerce and investment.
Prince Thomas Abi Jr.
Is a Public Affairs Analyst/Social Commentator
