New Awka Capital Territory Int’l Market inaugurated

…To contain over 10,000 model lock-up shops

By Ukpa Ewa

Anambra State Government has unveiled a prototype of the Awka Capital Territory Ultra-Modern International Market located at Isiagu, Awka South Local Government Area.

This is coming barely three weeks after the test-run of the state’s Cargo and Passenger Airport at Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area of the state.

In a speech at the event, Gov. Willie Obiano, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, commended the host community, for providing 20.8 hectares of land for the project.

According to him, this will not only boost development of trade, commerce and wealth creation in Awka and environs but also decongest traffic gridlock from Eke Awka.

“The vision for embarking on this project is to make Anambra State a home for economic activities and investment destinations. Trade and Commerce is one of the five pillars of the Willie Obiano administration, and this ultra-modern market speaks a whole lot about this.It is our belief that the construction company handling the project will deliver on schedule. It is also our belief that the host community will give every necessary support for the actualisation of the dream,” he said.

Earlier in an address, Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Chief Uchenna Okafor, described commerce as a determinant for economic stability.

He therefore called on Anambra traders in the Diaspora to come home and invest in line with Gov. Obiano’s akulueuno clarion call.

“When I assumed office as Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, I embarked on a tour of some parts of the world, where I realised that Anambra’s greatest business strength is outside the country. I also realised that if our people carrying on businesses in different parts of the world repatriate even 10 per cent of their investments to Anambra, the state will be bigger than Dubai and Taiwan. Obiano’s government is always willing to support any investment that can add value to the lives of our people. So, I will request the private sector to come into the state to invest, because, no government will succeed without the active participation of the private sector,” he said.

Also speaking, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ASIPPA), Jide Ikeakor, said at least, 35 per cent of Nigeria’s commercial activities are controlled by Anambra businessmen alone.

According to him, siting the ultramodern at Isiagu holds great potential for the state both during and after its construction.

This, he explained, was because a lot of job opportunities would come up along the construction and business chains.

It will be recalled that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in 2017.