Bring Back AMATAS - ATF Tells Obiano and Okafor

Uzor Dede

The Anambra State Traders' Forum (ATF),:has urged the State Commissioner for  Trade, Commerce  and Wealth Creation, Chief Uchenna Okafor, to ensure immediate restoration of Amalgamated Markets Traders Association of Anambra State (AMATAS).

The President  of ATF, Dede Uzor, A Uzor, told newsmen  in Awka, Anambra State, during a  press statement that the Commissioner as a first step should call a meeting of all stakeholders in Anambra markets, which would include AMATAS and ASMATA to find a way forward to organise proper,all-inclusive and free,credible and fair election for traders, which should be supervised by AMATAS.

He said the suggestion was in order given the fact that AMATAS was legally registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and also has made  the State proud by supporting Governor Willie Obiano's administration  especially during his second term election.

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Follow Due Process, ATF Charges New Anambra Commerce Commissioner

Gov Obiano

The new Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Wealth Creation in Anambra State, Chief Uchenna Okafor, has been urged to follow due process, rule of law and respect for citizens' rights in the discharge of his official functions.

The Anambra State Traders' Forum (ATF), which made the call in a statement in Onitsha, commended Governor Willie Obiano for reassigning Chief Okafor from Transport Ministry to Commerce and Trade Ministry.

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Anambra At 28: Rights Group Challenges Gov. Obiano on Infrastructure

Obiano

Alphonsus Nweze
The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) in Anambra  State has called on the administration of Governor Willie Obiano to make concerted and deliberate efforts to tackle infrastructure decay, insecurity, multiple and illegal revenue collection, unemployment, cultism  and  youth restiveness in the State even as Anambra State celebrate 28 years of it's creation  by the former Military Head of State,  Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

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Governor Obiano Set To Tackle Flooding in Ogbaru

Governor Obiano

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has concluded plan to solve once and for all the problem of flooding ravaging some communities in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the State.

The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the  Local Government Area, Comrade Arinzechukwu Awogu,who revealed  this,  weekend  said the settlements and communities that will benefit from the desalting of Sacamori that collect flood around the area include Okpoko, Idemili, Okoti, Odorobber, Ohita and Atani.

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How Gov. Obiano Banned Illegal Levies...Sanitizes Keke Operators

The Anambra State Government in a bid to sanitise  the collection of levies from Keke owners and riders in State has banned about four categories of levies paid to youths  of different communities in the State.
The levies which hitherto became burden to  the Keke operators were Onitsha Ado n' Idu, Nkpor Obodo dike,Ogbaru di uso, loading and offloading levy and load carrying ticket.

The Coordinator of the Unified Tricycles Owners and Riders Association of Anambra State in Onitsha North Local Government Area of  the State, Mr Lucas Nweze, who lauded Obiano over the decision to ban the levies said they now pay N450 per Keke per day.

He said out of the amount the State Government's share was N350 per Keke every day and the remaining N100 was used to settle other miscellaneous interests.

He expressed appreciation to the Governor and the Commissioner for Transport, Chief  Uchenna Okafor,for removing hoodlums who have been inflicting injuries on their members to compel them to pay Illegal levies.

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Anambra Market Splashes Over N100m to Empower Members ...Buys 1000 Plots for Traders'Estates

Gov Obiano

 Building Material Market, Ogidi, a suburb of Onitsha, the Anambra State commercial nerve centre has splashed over one hundred million naira on over 500 of its members.

The president of the market, Chief Jude Nwankwo, who stated this in an interview said the amount which has since been  disbursed to the beneficiaries was to rehabilitate some of its members whose businesses have nose-dived.

He also the cash gift to some of the members of the flourishing Market was to empower its members who are having challenges in their businesses.

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Anambra Community Decries Plot To Take Over Their Ancestral Land

The people of Ezegbe, Umumpuma, Oba in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State has decried the alleged gang up by some elements in the State Government, companies and individuals to take over their ancestral land without paying compensation to them.

The community said the Anambra State Government under Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju had in 2002 taken over the land to build an international market in partnership with a private developer, Burkham Nigeria Limited with a firm promise to pay compensation to the owners.

Burkham has however ceded the right to Micpan company to develop the land, hence they are now  selling of part the land to aluminum traders.

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ATF Condemns Anambra Government Undue Interference In Market Leadership

Traders and groups in Anambra State have continued to condemn the planned imposition of Caretaker Committee on the umbrella Market Association in the State, Amalgamated Markets Traders Association of Anambra State  (AMATAS).

Anambra Traders Forum  (ATF), which has raised alarm over plot to plunge the the markets in the State  into crisis by the State Government.

Recall that AMATAS had fixed June 5, 2019 to hold her state general executive election after the expiration of the tenure of Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, who is now House of Representatives -elect.
But the State Government through the Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Investment, Dr. Christian Madubuko, cancelled the election, stating that the State Government would impose Caretaker Committee for the traders in Anambra State.

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ASMATA Leadership: BoT Insist in Democratic Process

Willie Obiano

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambta State has been urged to review his stand  to impose  Caretaker Committee on the Amalgamated Market Traders of Anambra State (AMATAS).

The Board of Trustees (BoT) of AMATAS after a crucial meeting during the week appealed to Governor Obiano to allow the traders to elect their leaders through democratic process to avoid any friction within markets in the State.

The umbrella market organisation had planned to conduct election on June 5, 2019 with all the preparations completed but on June 4, 2019, the Governor called the outcome president  Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo to call off the election, hinting of his plan to set up Caretaker Committee to oversee the markets in the State.

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Review Crime, Traffic Situations at Onitsha, Upper Iweka and Bridgehead etc. HURIJE Tells Anambra Governor, Obiano

Right Activist, Dede Uzor

Governor Willie Obiano has been called upon to as a matter of urgency review the security and traffic situations at Upper Iweka and Bridgehead, Onitsha in Anambra State.

The Human Right, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders Foundation (HURIJE),which made the call in a press conference at Onitsha raised fresh alarm of another impending danger at Upper Iweka near Toronto hospital and Tracas bus Terminals.

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Arrest Obinze, Ex Bridgehead Market PG, Elders Forum Pleads With Obiano, Security Operatives

Gov Obiano

 Bridgehead Elders Forum (BEF), has called for immediate arrest of the the immediate past President General of Bridgehead Market, Onitsha, Mr. Sunday Obinze alias (Ogwu-Ego, Ritual Money)

In a  crowded press conference addressed at the market yesterday, BEF's chairman, Chief  Samuel Osakwe, said Obinze should be arrested and charged to Court for contempt of Court and for allegedly defrauding the State Government over N160m being  the of money collected  in 2016/17 Stallage,development and sanitation levies of N80m each totalling N160 million

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Group Decries Governor Obiano' s Constant Trip Abroad

Human Rights, Liberty Access and Defenders Foundation (HURIJE), a human right and pro-democracy organisation has decried the constant travels abroad by Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State.

Addressing the press in Onitsha yesterday, the chairman BOT of the rights group, Dede Uzor A, Uzor,  said the visits have slowed down the pace of governance in the State.

He said the absence of the governor has created insecurity in the State which has resulted in the brutal murder of Nimo President General in Njikoka Local Government Area of the State, Chief Anthony Igboka and the alleged muder of about seven farmers in Ansmbra West by  Fulani Herdsmen some weeks back.

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Human Right Groups Give Gov Obiano 3-Day Ultimatum To Arrest ASTMA Commaders

Gov Willie Obiano

Two right groups, Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders Foundation (HURIJE) and National Publicity Secretary Campaign for Democracy CD has given governor Willie Obiano three days ultimatum to arrest and prosecute two Anambra Traffic Maintenance Agency commanders in the state.

The Board of Trustees Chairman of HURIJE, Comrade Dede Uzor A Uzor and CD National publicity Secretary, gave the ultimatum on behalf of the groups on Wednesday at the state capital while briefing newsmen on the activities of Anambra Traffic Management Agency.

They said though the agency has been proscribed and disbanded by Anambra state government, but that the two commanders hunt for private vehicles to extort money from them and harass innocent citizens.

The groups said it has also uncovered a detention center located at Old FRSC Building by Textile Market, Bridge Head in Onitsha. 

They alleged that Mr Nnamdi extort between Twenty Thousand naira (N20,000.00) to Two Hundred Thousands naira (N200,000.00) from any of their victims. "His activities has brought serious dent to the Anambra state government."

Whilst calling for immediate arrest and prosecution of the 'self' acclaimed commander, Mr Nnamdi Aghadinauno, fondly called Ochoudo from Anaku whom it was alleged employed his brother one Akwansa. They further alleged that Ochiudo is behind all the extortions, intimidations and forceful impoundment of citizen's vehicles in Onitsha using the Agency to cause havoc in Onitsha and environs.

Responding however, the Managing Director of the agency, Chief Chris Uzoechina disclosed that his Agency mandated the duo to stop doing the work and the Commissioner for Transport, Hon Uchenna Okafor also affirmed that they were told to stop work since last year.

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