By Uzo Ugwunze
The Caretaker Committee Nkpor
Main Market led by Chief Paul Okafor (Ugochimereze) has installed 22 Solar
powered Street Lights around the market and also embarked on serious security
measures to secure the market from hoodlums and any form of fire outbreak as
they brace up for Christmas seasonal rush.
Addressing newsmen in his
Market office, Nkpor Idemili North LGA Anambra State shortly after the last
general open market prayers for the year, Chief Paul Okafor recounted the
various projects and programs his administration was able to achieve within the
2024 fiscal year beating his chest as the first market to pay in 100 percent of
the traders stallage or IGR into the state government coffers.
According to him, we traders of
Nkpor Main Market are very cooperative with the authorities. We comply with
every directive given from both the State Government and Anambra State Markets
Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA) especially when we see the tax payers
money at work considering the numerous projects carried out by Governor
Chukwuma Soludo in different sectors of the State.
"Nkpor Main Market is the
first major market to pay up the #17,500 tax for the 2024 fiscal year. Also, we
are the only market that the IGR enforcement team has come to Cross check for
total compliance.
"After the fire incidents
we experienced last year December that gutted goods and shops worth millions of
naira, we have taken several precautionary measures to forestall future occurrence.
In the same vein, we have fulfilled all the three requirements directed by the
House of Assembly for all the markets. Every line/block in our market has an
industrial fire extinguisher. We have two functional Water boreholes with
massive overhead tanks. All major entrance into the market have been decongested.
We have installed 22 solar powered search lights around the market. The only
thing remaining now is the installation of solar powered Security CCTV Cameras
which the state government gave out to a contractor in collaboration with the
HOA.
"The traders also
contributed #1,700 to carry out some of the internal projects including repairing
all the gates at the market entrance to ensure that there is no porous area for
hoodlums to access the market. Also, we repaired the culverts at the major
gates which used to be impassable for vehicles bringing in goods into the
market.
"However, we are calling
on State government to assist us by German-flooring the major Parks in the
market because it is very cost intensive," said Okafor.
Earlier, the Caretaker Chairman,
Okafor as another fire preventive measure urged the line chairmen to ensure
people use original Nigerian wire cable for electricity wiring in their shops
adding that each block should have cut and base cut out fuse which will always
be switched off before market closure daily to prevent sparks or power surge
should high voltage light current come suddenly.
Narrating an ugly incident of
fraud in the market by a fraudulent P.O.S. operator, Okafor said that the
market leadership has decided that commercial POS operators must be registered
with the authorities and each operator stationed in a particular place so that
fraudulent transactions can be checkmated or traced.
He further advised traders to
be watchful and vigilant as the rush for Christmas yuletide sales and buying
intensifies because many shop lifters and thieves will flood the market
disguised as buyers whereas they came to the market with ulterior motives.
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