The Abia State Ministry of Trade and Commerce has begun a formal reallocation exercise for newly-built shops at the Ekeoha Shopping Complex in Aba, marking a key phase in the state government’s effort to modernise one of the city’s busiest commercial hubs.

The exercise is being conducted in partnership with Rhino Homes and Properties Limited, the private developer handling the first phase of the complex’s redevelopment. According to the ministry, the process is designed to ensure that traders who lost their spaces during construction, as well as verified new allottees, are properly documented and reassigned shops in the upgraded facility.

Participation is restricted to individuals who have fully paid for shops in the Phase One development. This includes existing shop owners whose original allocation certificates are recorded in the official Market Register, alongside new applicants who previously obtained preliminary clearance from Rhino Homes or the ministry.

Officials explained that every applicant must present documentary proof of previous ownership or preliminary clearance, in addition to evidence of full payment for the new shop allocation. Only those who meet these conditions will be considered for final clearance and reallocation.

The ministry has created dual channels for participation, allowing traders to complete the process either online or through physical verification. Online applicants are required to fill out designated forms and upload supporting documents using an active email address, while those opting for in-person verification must appear at the GADA Building on River Avenue in Aba with original and photocopies of their documents and a valid national identity card.

Authorities say that once verification is concluded, all validated allocations will be entered into the official Market Register. Successful applicants will then receive Certificates of Allocation issued by the Ministry of Trade and Commerce, formalising their rights to the new shops.

The redevelopment of the Ekeoha Shopping Complex is part of a broader push by the Abia State Government to upgrade commercial infrastructure in Aba, improve safety and orderliness in markets, and provide better trading conditions for thousands of small and medium-scale businesses that rely on the city’s markets for their livelihoods.