Anambra Govt Urged To Prevail Traders Adamant to Relocate to Perm site

By Chukwudum Ebele

Several Market Associations which have built and officially relocated to their permanent site have called on the Anambra State government to use its constitutional Powers and mandate every Trader to relocate to their permanent site.

The markets hugely affected include Plastic Market Ogbunike, Shoe Manufacturers and dealers, Nkwelle Ezunaka, Synthetic Fabric market, Ogidi and Cosmetics and provision dealers, Ogbunike.

They said that lack of concentration of the traders who sell similar commodities at the same Market has continuously resulted to loss of profit on the part of the Traders and loss of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the state.

The market leaders lamented that the aim to decentralize markets in Onitsha and the ban on Street trading as initiated by the former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige and gazetted by the Anambra State House of Assembly to further bring development and improve the economy of the state has been frustrated by some persons who do not have the interest of the majority.

Speaking to newsmen at Ogbunike, the Chairman, Plastic Products Dealers Soceity International Market, Mr. Udoka Ogbuefi flanked by the Market Secretary, Mr. Onyeka Anunwa lamented that the permanent site which has over 600 lockup shops has less than 150 functional shops occupied by traders saying that some who contributed in developing the site abandoned their shops.

“We began the journey of getting a permsite during the Chris Ngige’s administration and we started contributing fund for it with the hope that all of us will come here for business. As soon as Peter Obi came in and announced that there is Street market even in London our aim was defeated. We need to come together as we were at Amobi street to make here viable”, said Ogbuefi.

He further pleaded with the state government to provide the market with an electricity Transformer.

Similarly, the Chairman, Cosmetics and provision dealers Association, Azu Ogbunike, Chief Uzodimma Ikwuka flanked by the Financial Secretary, Hon Okey Agunwa said they spent about 800 million naira to build the permanent site but over 800shops were still left unoccupied. They maintained that relocating the market to permsite will help government recover lost revenue.

“Government should facilitate our fellow traders at Menace, Bishop Heerey, Madueke, Onowu Anakogu streets to relocate to this permsite. You need to go to these street markets to see how both customers and traders jam-pack themselves in this COVID 19 era. Here, the shops are well spaced. We also need state government to come and rescue us from erosion cum flood menace in this market” they said.

According to Chief Sunday Nweke, President, Synthetic Fabric International market, Ogidi who was flanked by the finsec, Chief Sunday Agu ” It is in the gazzette that any market that finishes their permsite should relocate. We have been trying since 2018 to urge our colleagues at street market to join us to no avail.

“The Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Uchenna Okafor has also weilded into the matter but they still refused. We need a transformer, fire service and Security van. We shall be glad to receive financial assistance from Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state”, said Nweke.

At Shoe Manufacturers and General Dealers market, Nkwelle, the President, Chief Clement Emesim said that many shoe dealers are still adamant to relocate from their former site-Okoroichida estate Onitsha Owerri road.

“We have held several meetings with them to know their problem with the SA to Governor on Markets as the mediator. They initially demanded for 400 shops and later 700shops which we showed them yet they refused to join us. Let the Honorable Commissioner vacate them because ASMATA does not recognize them”, said Emesim.

Meanwhile, some of the street market traders who were contacted by our reporter gave varying reasons for not relocating to the new sites. The reasons include lack of interest, lack of trust adding that they were fully registered and recognized by government as a market.

At Amobi plastic, the Chairman, Chief Sunday Odife represented by Vice Chairman, Chief Felix Isiugo said that the need for expansion and hike of rentage made them to start looking for permanent site but later on the former Governor Peter Obi allowed them to continue doing business at the area.

Also, Okoroichida Estate, Chairman Divine Shoe Manufacturers and Leather Sellers, Comrade Isaac Chiokwe with his VC, Okechukwu Nduka said that even before the permsite issue there were two groups in the shoe market alleging that the group at permanent site deviated from the initial terms of agreement.

More so, Hon Isaac Onuigwe of Upholstery materials dealers alleged that they decided to separate when they discovered anormalllies surrounding the purchase of the land adding that his association will relocate to there own site when they are ready.