The Anambra State government has expressed her readiness to kick-off the enforcement of the ban on street trading as well as illegal collection of revenue aggressively across the state on Wednesday.
Governor Willie Obiano made the announcement during a crucial meeting he had with market leaders at the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia.
He said that it had become imperative for government to embark on the operation as a way of salvaging the ugly situation that has discouraged buyers from patronising markets across the state.
Obiano said: “As the Chief Security Officer of the state, I have the responsibility of not only battling crimes and criminality but also protecting the street traders who run their businesses at the risk of being crushed by moving vehicles.”
The Governor expressed dismay at the high level of illegal revenue collections and extortion of buyers in the markets saying that it spells very negative indices for his administration’s efforts at creating a business -friendly environment in the state.
He also frowned at the diversion of approved levies by some market leaders, stressing that the meeting is important to sound a note of warning before government resume enforcement.
While revealing that his government has made alternative arrangements for the relocation of sellers of fruits and other articulated items that constitute the bulk of the street traders, Obiano maintained that it is in the best interest of the state that sanity is entrenched in the state’s business operations.
In his speech, the President of Amalgamated Traders Association of Anambra State, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, said the meeting came at a good time when the State Government is taking measures to return the lost glory of the state’s commerce and industry sector.
He gave assurance that the traders were ready to work with government to fish out illegal revenue collectors in the state.
In their separate remarks, the Head of Market Traders in Onitsha South, Mr. Eric Uwaoma, the Chairman, Onitsha Main Market, Mr. Chidozie Okeke and the Chairman, Bridgehead Market, Onitsha, Mr. Sunday Obieze, hailed the Governor for his commitment towards eliminating challenges facing traders and appealed that they be carried along in the enforcement exercise to ensure that the exercise yields the desired result.
The Market Leaders further appealed to government to clearly specify the approved levies for traders in their various markets and also address the issue of accusations of complicity in the illegal collection businesses against them and government.