“Register Or Lose Your Shops” – Abia Govt  Warns Displaced Traders

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Abia State Government has decried the inability of traders and others affected by the ongoing remodeling and reconstruction efforts at Ekeoha Shopping Plaza, Ariaria International Market, Ngwa Road Market  all in Aba and others across the State, to  participate in the enumeration  exercises.

This is just as it called on  the traders and the State’s business community to continue in their support for  the Government in its quest to transform the State.

The duo of Hon Kingsley Chibueze Nwokocha and Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu, Commissioners for Trade and Commerce and Transport, respectively, spoke separately at a send-off and welcome party organized by the Abia State Market Amalgamated Traders Association ASMATA in their honour on Wednesday night, November, 13, 2024, in Aba the commercial hub of the State.

Hon Nwokocha noted that much as the Abia State Government has expressed its unwavering commitment to ensuring that all original shop owners at the various markets have their properties back at the end of the reconstruction, it will not be able to do so in a vacuum.

“His Excellency, Governor Alex Otti, has given a marching order for all  shops affected by the on going demolition and reconstructions at some  markets  to be returned to their original owners when the exercise is completed.

“The Governor has also promised that those who don’t have all the money at hand to pay will be assisted to secure facilities to handle the matter under favourable terms.

“But the problem here is that many of the affected traders have refused to complete the registration exercise which is a very vital aspect of the process

“There is no way we can know those who want to retain their shops and those who are not interested if they don’t fill the registration documents.

“So, I am using this opportunity to call on the leaders of the markets to try and sensitize their members on the need to comply with all the necessary processes for the re-allotment of their shops.

“The truth about the situation is that there is no way those who failed to complete the registration documents will be guaranteed of their shops at the end of the day.

This is not the intendment of the Government. Our intention is for all original shop owners to have the choice of first refusal”, Hon Nwokocha stated.

While appreciating the leadership of ASMATA for the event put together to welcome him, Hon Nwokocha one of the new Commissioners appointed recently, enjoined the traders to accord the Government all the needed support to succeed in its mission of restoring the lost fortunes of the state.

According to him, one of the most important ways of showing their support is to always ensure the regular payment of Government statutory taxes and levies.

” I want to use this very opportunity to appeal to the leadership of the markets in the State to appreciate, the fact that without funds, the Government can not do much in terms of the provisions of amenities to the people.

“One of the veritable means Government rely upon for revenue is taxes/rent. Please, let your members know that they will be  encouraging the Government when they pay taxes and rents regularly and promptly.

“There is no magic Government will perform if the people fail to meet their civic obligations. At least, we have seen what the Government is doing with the peoples’ money in terms of infrastructural renewal, prompt payments of salaries, and other emoluments ,road rehabilitations and constructions and others

“Unlike before, Abians are seeing where their collective wealth is going into” Nwokocha stated.

Also speaking, Dr Ukagbu, the immediate past Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, now in charge of Transport, assured the ASMATA leadership and the traders of the continued commitment of the Government towards the provision of enabling environment for the thriving of  businesses across the state .

While appreciating the robust working relationship between the Government  and the traders during his time as Trade and Commerce Commissioner, he urged them to maintain the tempo through his successor, Hon Nwokocha.

The ASMATA President General Sir Alphonsus Udeigbo, earlier in his welcome address expressed satisfaction with the commitment of the Government to the provision of enabling environment for business transactions in the State.

He reaffirmed the unwavering determination of Abia traders towards complimenting the efforts of the Governor in creating a conducive business environment.

“Let me put it on record that we, the traders in Abia, after so many years in the wilderness, have seen the light ,courtesy of the present administration .

“We are eternally grateful that today, all the Markets in the State can now be accessed by our customers from far and near.

“There was a time things got so  worse that most of the traders could not even access their shops not to talk of receiving customers.

“But, all that have changed with the rehabilitations and reconstruction of most access roads to the markets within the short period the present administration has been in office.

“The impact on businesses has been unprecedented. To that extent ,we are condemned to swim and  sink with the present administration,. There is no other option , than to fully back it to continue the good job it is doing .

I want to say that ,the  support,will never be in short supply. That is why we have put together this event to on the one hand, thank the immediate past Commerce Commissioner for being a bridge between the traders and the Government ,as well as to appeal to the new one to consolidate on the existing cordial relationship.

Abia traders are assuring our unflinching loyalty and support,,to the Government in its determination to take the state to a new height” the ASMATA President General stated .

Highlights of the event were the presentation of merit awards to the two Commissioners and the inauguration of ASMATA stakeholders and Sports Committees