Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Anambra State Government has said it will start demolition of structures erected in market spaces without approval from relevant authorities in the state.
The Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr Obinna Ngonadi, made this known during a meeting with market leaders at the Anambra State Government House, Awka.
He said that some structures erected in the markets were not in line with the government policy on cleaner environment and have no approval from the State Physical Planning Board.
The Commissioner expressed displeasure at some state officials who collect bribes from developers and give approval for constructions and extension of shops, thereby causing environmental infractions and nuisance in the markets.
He also frowned at traders who displayed their wares on the tarred roads, blocking gutters and drainages with their garbage, thereby causing obstructions on the roads.
Dr Ngonadi, however, directed market leaders to meet with Anambra State Market Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA), leadership to set a time frame for all markets to decongest all roads within and around their locations, stressing that street trading outside markets is illegal.
He warned that Government would embark on inspection and enforcement of the directives as soon as the time frame elapses and would remove the executives of any market that contravened the directive.
The Commissioner further disclosed that the State Government has introduced a digital revenue collection system that will be deployed across all markets. According to him, this will ensure that government collects all revenue directly into its account.
Ngonadi who explained that payment kiosks would be installed to assist those who might not be able to cope with the use of the digital model of payment, implored market leaders to assist Government in ensuring the success of the system in the state.
Commenting, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Mr Collins Nwabunwanne, harped on the need to achieve a beautiful and clean Anambra.
He asked the market leaders to clear vehicles that are abandoned on the tarred roads to make way for free flow of human and vehicular movements.
On the digital revenue collection model, Chairman Anambra Internal Revenue Service, AIRS, Mr Richard Mmaduebo said the administration is committed to phasing out the analogue mode of revenue collection.
He said the aim was to block revenue leakage and to ensure that a larger percentage of government revenue gets into Government coffers for effective use.
