Traders in different markets in Aba and Umuahia, Abia State, have expressed the hope of improved fortunes and ease of doing business after Governor Alex Otti appointed members of the Management Committee of markets across Aba and Umuahia, the state capital.
Otti had on Wednesday, approved the appointment of Chairmen and members of Management Committees for markets in the commercial city of Aba and Umuahia, the State’s capital.
A statement by Mr Chimezie Ukaegbu, the Special Adviser to Otti on Trade and Commerce, said the appointees would be inaugurated on Thursday at the Ministry of Trade and Investment in Umuahia.
In their reactions, some traders at Ariaria International Market, Aba, Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba, and Orie Ohabiam Market also in Aba, called for a better relationship between the traders and the leaders and also appealed for special government attention to their needs.
They tasked the new administration in the State and the newly appointed committee members to ensure that traders are not subjected to multiple taxation and intimidation, as they allegedly experienced before.
The traders, including Onyema Jackson, Bassey Ekwereugo and Kalu Onuoha, while commending Governor Otti for suspending collection of levies, said they were prepared to cooperate with the State government on its next step in organized revenue payment.
Listing alleged intimidation, bad roads, poor electricity as some of the challenges they faced, they expressed hopes the government would tackle them in line with Otti’s election campaign promises.
Also speaking, some traders and auto mechanics at Ohiya auto parts market in Umuahia South LGA, praised Governor Otti for reconstituting the market leadership while regretting that the two previous administrations in the State did not fulfil its promises, placing the market behind its peers.
At Ubani Ibeku market, Mike Ogbu and Chizoba Iroamachi appealed to the new management committee of the market to attract special government attention to their challenges.
The Ubani traders lamented that their business fortunes nosedived after their relocation from the demolished Umuahia main market in 2013.
They praised Otti for intervening in the issue of levies in the State and promised to support the new management committee
