By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The organized small business sector and traders in Abia State has advised the opposition camp in the State to stop crying more than the bereaved.
This is as they expressed satisfaction with what they called ” the transformational leadership of the State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, as well as their unflinching commitment towards making their modest contributions to the Abia renewal project .
The position of the traders is coming on the heels of the recent controversy steered by the introduction of annual N36,000 new tax regime imposed on traders in by the State Government.
In a statement earlier in the week, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, and immediate past Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority NALDA. Prince Paul Ikonne had berated the Governor Otti led administration for imposing on the traders and small scale entrepreneurs what he called a debilitating tax regime.
The Source reports that the Abia State Government, in a bid to shore up its internally generated revenue, IGR, profile had recently announced an increase in the amount payable by traders and small scale entrepreneurs across the state from N18 000 to N36,000 annually per shop and business outfits.
But while the new tax regime is yet to get off the ground, Prince Ikonne one of the vociferous and visible opposition voices described it as a deliberate ploy by the Abia State Government to further stifle business activities in the State, particularly, the small scale businesses.
According to Ikonne, a one time Commissioner for Lands and Physical planning in the State, adding a new tax burden on the already suffering traders and small scale entrepreneurs will lead to many of them closing shops sooner than later.
While further describing the development as inhuman and insensitive, the proprietor of Enyinmba Radio Station Aba, called on the State Government to immediately halt the implementation of the new tax regime to save businesses from possible collapse.
But, in an exclusive interview with this medium on Thursday, August 28,2025, Deacon Mike Aniorji, the Chairman of the popular Ariaria International Market Aba , informed that contrary to the impression being created by the opposition camp, the traders are manifestly happy with the current Abia state Government, and also are ever willing to be part of the efforts at creating a new Abia state.
According to him, the traders and other business owners are immensely satisfied that there are visible infrastructural facilities to justify any tax being paid to the Government.
Aniorji stated that unlike before when the taxes being paid found their way into private pockets, and with nothing to show for the humongous amount collected by the Government, Abians today can confidently point to what are being done with their funds .
The Ariaria International Market Chairman expressed deep regret that those, today pretending to love the traders and Abians were the same people that presided over the mindless pillaging of the people’s resources in the last 24 years.
He condemned the deliberate moves by the opposition camp to create unnecessary disaffection and chaos under the guise of fighting for the same traders they wilfully neglected for many years.
“Let me place it on record that Abians, including traders, and other business owners, are immensely grateful to and happy with the present administration in the state .
“It is no longer a secret that before the current administration ,most of the markets in the state were completely inaccessible owing to dilapidated road networks.
“Most of the traders, even when they managed to enter the markets had to put on rain boots to be able to access their shops , owing to devastating floods.
“The most disturbing aspect was that all the previous administrations in the State were appointing their family members, cronies and associates to be collecting the rents and taxes from traders and others.
“The result was that these cronies and associates after paying a paltry amount to the Government at the beginning of the year, will now collect billions in taxes from the traders.
At the end of the day,the money which could have been collected and used by the Government to maintain infrastructural facilities, including access roads to the markets, went regrettably into private pockets.
” Now, our position as traders is that since we are seeing results on the ground, since we now know where our money is going unlike before,we have decided to partner and collaborate with the Government of the day to take Abia to the next level.
” We are ready and happy to fulfill our statutory obligations to the Government , including payment of taxes and rents.
“We have decided to support the Government
with the payment of taxes. So, nobody should cry for us, as some people are trying to do” Aniorji stated.
He informed that efforts are underway to create a seamless payment system for the traders .
“At the moment, we have made representation to the Government requesting that the payment of the N36,000 be made in, at least two instalments.
“Being a listening Governor the request is presently receiving appropriate response from him”, the Ariaria Market Chairman noted .
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