Traders and hawkers at Eke Awka market, Anambra State, have decried extortion from people who claim to be working for the market leaders. The state government last year had suspended the collection of levies from traders in the state markets. Despite the state government's arrest of illegal levies collectors in some markets in the state, no arrest has been made at the market.
Speaking in anonymity, a trader at the market
blamed the state government, alleging that the market leadership enjoys the support
of the state government. He claimed that the market authority is more like the
ruling party managing the affairs of the market. “This market is peculiar in
that it can flaunt government directives. Several times in the media, it was
reported that the collection of levies has been suspended in all the markets in the
state. However, nothing has changed here. The state government can’t deny that
they have not received complaints regarding this issue, but can’t go after
their own.”
A trader, Mrs. Chinenye Oramalu, believes that the state government is not sincere with the order they issued, noting that before the suspension of levy collection, traders on the edge of the road had their goods, and wares confiscated by people who said they were government licensed agents. They once spilled my goods on the road for refusing to pay. I had earlier paid another group when another approached me in the evening. I reported the matter at their office, describing those involved, which they acknowledged but then my goods had been damaged.”
Many people view the suspension of the levy
collection in the state as a campaign strategy to solicit votes in the last
general elections. A businessman, Mr. Nweke Igboka, adds, “Whatever was behind
the state government idea to suspend levy collection in the markets in the
state before the last general elections, we knew it won’t last. But has blinded its
eyes to levy collections from traders, even hawkers, who they often seize or
spill their goods or wares.”
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