Soludo’s Administration Ends Market Crises – Chairman

By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha

The Chairman of Iron Rod market, Ogbaru Zone, Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State, Mr Evaristus Ejezie, disclosed Monday, in his office, that Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s administration ended the prolonged market crises through the appointment of the caretaker committee members to pilot the affairs of the markets.

”There is peace now in most of the markets in the State and the main reason is the appointment of the caretaker committees by the State government to pilot the affairs of the markets for now.

“In my Iron Rod market for instance, a lot of issues have been settled as a result of the 22- man committee members which I set up immediately I assumed office as the caretaker chairman. We were sued to court by our opposition in the market, we got court injunction to stop work in our new site at Nteje, Oyi Local Government Area, and our committee, stakeholders and our eight market units that will move to the new site, have looked into the matter with a view to solving the quagmire.

“The opposition went to court seeking to build the shops individually, as they believed that it would be too costly for them if a developer builds it. But we chose a developer to build it so that we will be paying gradually as it will be faster, and help to avoid these land invaders who have been coming.

“They have come up to four consecutive times since we bought the land, claiming to be the rightful owner of the land, so we want the construction fast, we were told that delaying the work would keep on attracting invaders to the land.

“We are still on it and trying to settle it so that we can move into the new site by November this year as achieving peace is a gradual process,” he further explained.

On security, the chairman stated that, “We have security in our market, they work both day and night, based on our agreement with our security company. they compensate us whenever there is burglary in the market, so there is no case of stealing for now.

”Likewise touting, there is no touting, they wanted to raise their ugly heads through our jobmen, I warned many of them with questionable characters to vacate our market, now before you become a job man, you must provide your passport and surety,(registered member) of the market,” the market boss hinted.

Also on fire fighting truck, the chairman said that they have discussed about it at the central body, ASMATA office, that they are planning to buy fire trucks/vehicles and mount each in a strategic position and will be controlled by the central body.

“The state government is good to us and in our market, we are working together, we are doing everything as the government directed us to. We have collected most of the dues as demanded by the government which include, stallage fees, sanitation, tax since 2022 and still collecting from few that have not paid.

“I thank the Governor for his relentless efforts to make the state, the clean, green and sustainable environment. look at Onitsha now, getting cleaner every day, clearing of refuse dumps, desilting of drainages, awarding and construction of roads across the state.

”I also thank the Special Adviser, SA, to the Governor on Markets, Chief Evaristus Uba and Anambra State Market Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA),President General, Chief Humphrey Anuna, for their numerous efforts in our markets especially in making sure there is cordial relationship with the government and traders in the market,” he stated.