By Chuks Eke
Determined to outgrow epileptic power supply and maintain steady power supply in the popular Ogbogwu market in the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra state, the Chief Ndubuisi Chukwuleta-led leadership of Onitsha drug market has taken the bull by the horns by acquiring and installing a brand new 500 KVA electric transformer to stop further intermittent power outage.
The transformer which was installed within the market premises, was commissioned by the Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State on Trade and Markets, Hon. Evarist Uba.
The commissioning which was preceded by a prayer session inside the market presided over by the market evangelism with shops locked, attracted the Chairman of Onitsha South Local Government Council, Hon. Emeka Orji, Bridge Head Divisional Police Officer, DPO, SP Ineke Richard Nnamdi and other stakeholders.
Cutting the ribbon to commission the transformer, the governor’s aide, Uba, urged the traders to ensure prompt payment of their stallage fees of N19,500 per annum, adding that in comparative analysis, it is even less than N2,500 weekly levy being paid by commercial tricycles operators in the state.
He reminded the traders that it was the levy they pay that was part of the money used by the state government for the rapid infrastructural development of the state.
Uba expressed satisfaction with the market chairman, Ndubuisi, for his efforts in procuring a new transformer to replace the old one adding that he has contributed immensely to the progress of the market.
He recalled that the revenue generated by the market last year was more than what the entire Bridgehead market generated and urged the traders of Ogbogwu to maintain the tempo.
On election of new executive members of the market as is being agitated by some traders in the market, Uba announced that all market elections in the market have been put on hokd until after the November 8 governorship election in the state, adding that they should exercise patience till after the election.
He warned the traders against breaking the keys used in locking up their shops whenever they fail to pay their stallage fees, adding that they have no right whatsoever to break the key used to lock up the shop as a result of non payment of their fees or else such illegal action would attract severe sanctions against the person.
Contributing, the council chairman, Orji, corraborated the position of Uba, and advised the traders to pay the stallage levies to assist the government in its development of the state.
He admitted that there is crisis in the market which prompted the demand for election and pleaded to the traders to wait until after the governorship election.
Orji expressed satisfaction with the installation and commissioning of the 500kv transformer stating that light makes life easier even as he reiterated the need for peace in the market.
Earlier in his speech, the market chairman, Ndubuisi, recalled that lack of power supply has been the major problem of the traders apart from alleged dealing in fake drugs by enemies of the market which he has continued to fight.
“The former transformer has been replaced with this 500kv transformer we procured to supply power to the market. We started having light on Friday after the installation and today we resolve to commission it for the good of the traders
“Our prayer is that we will continue to work for the interest of the traders and let the traders continue to support us, the executive, to move the market forward,” he pleaded.
