Trading activities at Isigate and adjoining streets in Umuahia Capital City is expected to end by April 1,2019 as Abia State government would allocate a free one year stalls to street traders at Ubani Ibeku Modern Market.
The Executive Secretary/Permanent Secretary, Abia State Planning Commission, Ugoeze Adanma Iheuwa, broke the cheering news during the 2019 budget defence of Ministries of Trade and Investment, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and office of the Accountant- General.
She said that the one year free stalls allocation at Ubani Ultra-modern market was to assist those without money to own a shop.
Ugoeze Iheuwa urged the Ministry to ensure that street traders are allocated with one year free stall at ubani to end the perennial street trading at Isigate and surrounding street in Umuahia.
She stressed the need for proper harmonization of trading activities in the capital city for revenue generation stating that no economy can survive without a back up from other revenue source outside the revenue allocation.
She appealed to the Ministry of Environment to ensure that Ubani Ibeku market are made conducive for trading activities by beautifying the roads leading to the market.
The Executive Secretary further challenged the trade and investment to develop a website that would showcase their activities to the outside to attract foreign investors to invest in the state.
Speaking during the budget defence of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ugoeze Iheuwa reminded them that they could generate revenue for themselves and the state government by collecting levies on award of chieftaincy titles and request by traditional rulers for status upgrade.
She further called for proper evaluation of local government projects and urged the Ministry to properly guide the local governments.
Earlier, in their presentations, the Permanent Secretaries Ministries Trade and Investment, Mr Onyema Abariukwu, and that of the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Pastor Iheanyi Eyinnaya, enumerated the policy thrust achievements, constrains of their ministries and what they need to move the ministries forward.
