Clean up: Anambra market chairman distributes 25 refuse bins to traders
By Chinwe Nwacha, Onitsha
In his bid to ensure green, clean and sustainable Anambra State, as directed by Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, the chairman of Sokoto Street Traders Association, adjacent to Onitsha Main Market, Hon. Mbachu Emeka, reportedly procured 25 refuse bins which he distributed to 25 plazas in the market.
"I bought 25 refuse bins and distributed them to 25 plazas in the market to stop the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the market. The clean-up exercise is based on the order from our governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, that our environment, especially markets, should be kept clean
"We have since commenced clearing our drainages, markets and all surroundings including decongesting the roads for easy flow of traffic. My taskforce team and I make sure everywhere is very clean in line with the governor's directive for a green, clean and sustainable Anambra State.
"Recall that because of that order, our Anambra State Amalgamated Traders' Association, ASMATA, President General, Chief Humphrey Anuna, mandated all the markets to be doing clean-up exercise every second, (2nd), Thursday of the month, starting from 7am to 10am," he stated.
He disclosed further that they employed the services of cleaners who clean both the plazas and the entire market warning that any one caught dumping/throwing refuse indiscriminately would be sanctioned.
"Formerly when traders sweep their shops they will dump the refuse inside gutter or on the roads, but now they have the waste bins, after sweeping shops or drinking satchet water, they will drop it inside the waste bin.
On security he said that they have water tight security to the extent that for one day no trader has complained of loss of wares and attributed it to a security expert, Hon. Chinenye Ihenko Okpompi, that guards the market, adding, "His office is here, he is the one protecting us in terms of security".
He commended the governor for reconstruction of the Nwangene bridge and urged him to provide shops for Street traders who block the roads with their wares even as he called on such traders to proceed to Solution market along Owerri road for affordable shops instead of risking their lives trading on the roads.
In her contribution, Mrs Veronica Asika Eze, the treasurer, commended the market chairman for his efforts towards moving the market forward adding that since the existence of the market, no one has done what Mbachu did especially buying the 25 waste bins with his own money and shared to all the plazas.
"He was among those that fought and made sure that Nwangene bridge was renovated, we thank God for our governor, he has a listening ear to everybody. if you come to Akpaka where I am living, he has made it to look like small London, we promise him that we will support him for his second tenure because he does very well.
"In our market now there is nothing like touting, if you come to Sokoto road, nobody will collect illegal money from you, we make sure that they are not in existence any longer.
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