Brace Up For Taxes And Levies, Obiano Tells Anambra Traders

ObianoGovernor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has asked traders in the state to brace up for payment of taxes and levies for the development of the state.

He stated this while inaugurating the Traders’ House built by the Amalgamated Market Traders Association of Anambra State on Wednesday in Onitsha, the Anambra State capital.

Obiano, who was represented by the deputy governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, explained that taxes were needed by the state government to meet various social and infrastructural obligations it owes the citizenry.

“The government had performed excellently well in security, construction and re-construction of roads as well as environmental cleanliness, which all of you can attest to.

“But we cannot do all these and sustain them without your cooperation through paying your taxes and levies; since traders make up 75 per cent of the population of the state.

“Again, it is clear to everyone in the country that allocation from the Federation Account is dwindling and we need to shore up our Internal Revenue Generation through streamlining our taxes and levies generation”, he said.

The governor also urged the traders to help in keeping the state, especially Onitsha clean.

Obiano, however, flayed rumours that commercial motorcycle operators were banned in the state, adding that the government only stopped them from plying some major roads that could pose danger to them and their passengers.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Industries, Trade and Commerce, Mr. Ifeatu Onejeme, had said that the new secretariat of traders would serve as a unifying factor that would bring peace and progress to traders in the state.

Onejeme noted that the state government was connecting most markets to public power source and that very soon, the state would have markets that operate round the clock daily.

In his address, the President-General of AMATAS, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, said that the completion of the Traders’ House in record time portrayed the leadership of traders as visionary and purposeful.

The AMATAS chief, who appreciated the financial contributions of the state government, also commended the contribution of Chief Poly Emenike, who donated N8m for the completion of the complex.