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Raymond Ozoji, Awka
Anambra state commissioner for trade and commerce, Dr. Christian Madubuko, has revealed government’s intention to build more international markets across Anambra in order to regulate commercial activities as well as ensure proper remittance of government revenues.
The commissioner made the revelation in an exclusive interview with our correspondent in his office at the secretariat complex Awka on Friday. He said new world class markets would come up in Awka, Onitsha, Ogidi and some other places in Anambra state.
He said the need for bigger and better organized markets in the state became very expedient as the state government intended to replace old markets with new modern markets replete with all the inherent facilities to ease buying and selling in the markets.
Madubuko said government plans to relocate people trading in the streets into new sites already completed, adding that the fabric market in Uli street Onitsha would be relocated to the new Ogidi international market while cosmetics and provision stores market in Madueke street Onitsha would also be moved to Ogbunike International market opposite the Building Materials International market.
He added that the import of government’s decision to build more markets was to decongest cities like Onitsha and make them become better places for people to live in and enjoy a new lease of life.
The commissioner further disclosed that the age-long Eke-Awka market in Awka, the Anambra state capital would equally be relocated to the new international market springing up in the area.
Cognisant of the fact that the aforementioned market does not speak well of the state capital, the commissioner said that was the remote reason government was working assiduously to enthrone a standard market for the state capital with a semblance of those overseas.
He therefore stressed the dire need for people to carry out their civic responsibilities as it relates to payment of government taxes and levies emphasising that evasion of such statutory payments was an offence against constituted authorities even as he pointed out that government was working round the clock to ensure orderliness in market union leaderships for proper collection and onward remittance of government levies.
Madubuko further explained that government was resolute in creating sanity, peace and orderliness in the markets, industries and workplaces and also encourage people to voluntarily undertake their civic obligations.
The commissioner, who was retained in office by Governor Willie Obiano in his second term, maintained that he would not be tired in his clampdown on fake revenue agents in the markets until the disgruntled elements were tired of siphoning government money.
He also noted that it was only when fake revenue collectors were fished out that the state could have a stable economy, stressing that the hoodlums were destroying the image of the state through their nefarious activities and government could not condone such affront on its reputation.
