MARKETS REFORM POTENTIALS IN THE EMERGING ECONOMY OF ANAMBRA STATE. A PRESENTATION BY CHIEF ANTHONY OKEKE.
Ezekwueche Aguleri.
Markets Refrom Potentials in the emerging economy of Anambra State.
A presentation by Chief Anthony Okeke.
Ezekwueche Aguleri.
It is a clear fact that we Ndianambra are by nature, businessmen and women. This accounts for the numerous business ventures by our citizens both within the state and outside.
No doubt, Anambra is blessed with mega markets across the three zones of the state and these markets are growing daily in both size and number of business operators.
However, as a market leader with the requisite education and understanding over the years, I have come to realise that majority of markets in our state are in need of organisational and infrastructural reforms so as to enable them deepen their potentials to the advantages of the state government and the business owners.
The type of reforms needed by many markets in the state includes availability of social amenities, such as good access roads, security, fire fighting equipment, cement roofing of shops, provision of conveniences both for business operators and visiting customers.
Other forms of refroms includes carrying along of market leaders in strategic government decisions to avoid introduction of unacceptable reforms in markets.
In the cause of reforming Anambra markets for growth and sustainable development, there shall be grading of markets according to their sizes and stuffs they deal on as this will enable the government know the level of infrastructures befitting every market.
Markets like Auto Spare Parts in Nnewi, Head Bridge, Onitsha main market and others in their grade will need special attention considering their sizes, goods and services they provides.
In my view as a market leader in Nigeria, when these markets are given the needed business enabling infrastructures, it will afford the government the opportunity of either raising market taxes or introducing new ones. By this strategy, the government will be in a position to make more than double of what it has been making from Anambra market.
Besides, part of the market reforms will be capturing of all traders in a digital registration model across all the markets so as to make it easy for the government to know who does business, anywhere across the state.
The registration will also stamp out touting in markets.
The government may introduce or hinge the digital registration reform on the reason of easy identification of genuine traders and business operators in the state for delivery of social amenities and security reasons. Again, the idea will afford the government easy access to capturing all traders in its tax net for the state’s posterity and access to funds.
Another line of reform that will enrich Anambra markets will be the idea of upgrading certain markets to mega medium and small markets so as to make sure that all market business centres is effectively covered and captured in the government scheme of things.
Besides, during a feasibility study to identify and grade all markets in Anambra, emphasis shall be placed on locations, accessibility, security, major goods and other key factors that may be considered for the betterment of business and market operations in the markets.
On a more serious note, when these strategic reforms are carried out on markets in Anambra, the level of increase in Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) from the markets across the state will be mind – boggling.
To well-meaning Anambra State indigene that wants the state under the emerging government of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo to succeed as soon as possible, market refroms will usher in business and trading sanity in the state.
It is important to recall that some of the key manifestoes of the incoming administration centre on putting the state on sustainable development trajectory.
As a seasoned and tested market administrator, carrying out all these refroms as explained above will help in sanitising the business environment and putting every identified market on growth lane.
No doubt, the incoming administration of Prof Soludo clearly is in a haste to reposition the state in the part of development and it demands on all of us to come up with strategic solutions based on our professional backgrounds.
I have been in the business of trading and market leadership over the years in Nigeria, especially in Lagos with several laurels won on good market leadership. My experience in market management will help immensely in repositioning Anambra markets.
I am the current President of the popular Mandilas International Trade Centre (MITC), Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, Badagry Expressway, Lagos. The reforms introduced by my administration since my first tenure till my current second tenure have moved the market to enviable heights in reckoning.
We have won several awards as the best organised trading centre across the state of Lagos. Only recently, MITC under my administration was crowned the best secured market in Lagos. It is important to explain that these awards, which I cannot mention all here did not just come so easy, but through sustainable reforms introduced by my administration from time to time.
To me, I believe that my State, Anambra, deserves the best and it will only come when all of us with requisite experiences join hands together with the incoming government to move the state forward in our own different fields.
Thank you all.
I am Hon. Chief Anthony Amaechi Okeke Ezekwueche Aguleri.
(B.Sc) Bus.Admin. (UniLag),
President, Mandilas International Trade Centre (MITC), Lagos Trade Fair Complex,
Coordinator, Soludo Support Group (SSG), Lagos State Chapter,
Convener/Sponsor; Anambra Men & Women For Soludo.
