Alleged market closure, sit-at-home fake news – Anambra Govt

By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha.

Anambra State Government, Wednesday, described as fake news, the speculation making the round that markets in the State will be shut on the 20th of December 2022 and reopen on the 20th of January, 2023, and alleged five-day sit-at-home (from 9th of December to 14th of December).

Addressing all the market chairmen and secretaries in the State, at the Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association, ASMATA, secretariat, at Modebe road, Onitsha, the Chief of Staff to the State Government, Chief Ernest Ezeajughi, told the traders to disregard such rumour that emanated from the enemies of progress.

“Don’t mind the enemies of progress, how can we close markets at this critical time that we are about to celebrate the Christmas and New year. It is the period we make sales, so don’t mind the saboteurs.

“The sit-at-home is another fake news which even IPOB has cleared the air that it was fake news. To have a sit-at-home from the 9th to the 14th of December is not possible. Even in the time of Covid-19, we did not have it this long,” he started.

The Chief of Staff who expressed satisfaction with the cordial relationship between the traders and the State Government, urged the traders to ensure payment of their stallage levy adding that only about five per cent of the markets have paid their stallage levies.

“It is from the money generated that the government will be able to put in place the infrastructures. We should endeavour to meet up before the year rounds up,” he pleaded,”

In his response, the ASMATA President, Chief Humphrey Anuna, commended the Chief of Staff for coming physically to interact with the traders despite his tight schedules.

He assured the traders that he would work comfortably with them in a bid to move the markets and State forward, even as he urged them to ensure the payment of their stallage levies as demanded by the State Government.

Speaking, the chairman of Ogidi Building Materials market, Chief Jude Nwankwo, told the Chief of Staff that he came to find out from him if he (Nwankwo) was the person among the three persons appointed as patrons of the market..

In a swift reaction, the Chief of Staff confirmed to him that he was, and he( Nwankwo) commended the State Government for finding him worthy to be appointed a patron and pledged to work and support the government

Also speaking, the chairman of Onitsha Main market, Chief Innocent Ezeoha (Ezennia), complained of exorbitant levy being collected by revenue collectors on articulated vehicles in the market which always resulted in crisis, and urged the government to intervene.

Pic shows Chef of Staff R, ASMATA President L