Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has reached out to the traders to help improve the revenue base of the state while commending the leadership of Ochanja Central Market, Onitsha for winning the star prize on revenue generation.
Soludo commended Bonaventure Muo-led executive of the market for the feat and urged them not to relent even as he advised traders in Onitsha to sustain the revenue generation.
Ochanja Central Market, Onitsha, came first in revenue collection in one year under review to win the star prize, while Onitsha Main Market and Ogbaru Relief Market were second and third respectively.
The governor represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Ernest Ezeajughi at the presentation of prize to the winner in Awka on Tuesday also commended the President-General of Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association (ASMATA), Humphrey Anuna for his efforts towards the market IGR increase.
“Anuna has also introduced the ASMATA newspaper, ‘Traders’ Voice,’ that no successive administrations have done, to help project market activities,” Soludo said.
The governor urged the markets that did not get the much expected IGR to work harder even as he advised the star prize winner, to be wary of ‘overtake,’ by maintaining the position.
“The Anambra Internal Revenue Service (AIRS), Chief Greg Ezeilo, is also working hard, and that is the increase you are seeing in IGR.
“We inherited insecurity, decayed infrastructure but with the money generated in Ochanja Central Market, Onitsha Main Market, Ogbaru Relief (Main) market and others, we were able to change the narratives,” he said.
Ngobili Jude, chairman of the State Assembly Committee on IGR, expressed satisfaction on the Ochanja market leadership and urged them to keep it up.
He noted that state government relied on the Onitsha markets for IGR to boost the infrastructural development of the state.
Anuna, ASMATA president general, assured that the traders would work hard to increase the revenue base of the state.
Muo, chairman of Ochanja Central Market, paid growing tribute to the state governor and his aides for the honour done the leadership.
“If not for the encouragements and advice, we would not have worked hard to win the star prize,” he said.
