Onitsha market chairman lists achievements as he records highest revenue generation
By Chinwe Nwacha, Onitsha
The chairman of Onitsha Main market, Anambra State, Chief Innocent Ezeoha, Friday, listed his achievements within one year in office, stating that his market recorded the highest Internally Revenue Generation, IGR, out of all the markets in the State.
Fielding questions from newsmen, the market boss said other achievements recorded by him and members of his caretaker committee, were in line with current leadership of Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo- led administration aimed at transforming the State.
According to him Governor Soludo vowed to make the State Dubai and Taiwan of Africa by also upgrading the standard of doing business using Onitsha as a hub hosting the largest market in West Africa sub region.
He said, "Going down the memory lane no past leadership of Onitsha Main Market had ever achieved on a long term what the current executive led by myself, Chief Innocent I. Ezeoha ( a.k.a Ezennia N'Umuchu), had achieved within one year short stint in the leadership of Onitsha Main Market Traders Union ( OMMATU).
"The governor true to his pledge, appointed me, an experienced, enterprised and visionary personality who share common vision with our solution governor. It may interest you to know some of the achievements of this current leadership which are endearing to traders and their customers that include, Introduction of regular briefing of traders through meetings on government's policies and programmes.
"Extension of hours of business to allow enough time for traders to deal with their customers and tidy their environment before closure, decongestion of access road, routes and lines, provision of infrastructures/ furniture such as desks for meetings, ceiling fans,public address system etc.
"Introduction of self propelled fire extinguishing devices for lines in order to check fire outbreaks attraction of Federal Govt.'s Free-will services for fast internet connectivity to enhance ease of doing business, establishment of a functional Primary Health Care Centre and introduction of a sanitation/ evacuation monitoring unit to ensure proper collection and disposal of refuse through each line- 2- bins system.
"Destilling of all water channel to allow free flow of flood within and outside the market environ, introduction of Otunkwo Co-operative Housing scheme to enable traders own their own houses through organized system of payment, attraction of state govt.'s Igba Boi (apprenticeship ), Loan scheme, and emerging the highest in Internally Generated Revenue in markets in Anambra State.
With the above records, the chairman said he has been able to write his name on the sand of time of Prof. Soludo's administration, even as he expressed optimism that more will be achieved if government looks more in the direction of traders as it is doing currently by rehabilitating all the access roads to the market.
"Another challenge is the issue of power, if solar powered light is provided it will go a long way in alleviating the problem of incessant power outages. We appreciate the government for keeping to promises. The traders are not left in their support for Solution government," he posited