Soludo Vows To End Illegal Levies On Petty Traders In Anambra

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has called on residents of Ekwulọbịa in Aguata Local Government Area to rally behind his administration, stressing the importance of community involvement in local governance and development.

Addressing a large crowd at a campaign rally in Ekwulọbịa on Saturday, the governor reiterated his commitment to grassroots reforms, particularly the protection of small-scale traders. He directed local authorities to stop collecting levies from petty traders, especially those whose trading capital is less than ₦100,000.

Soludo said the directive followed his visit to Eke Market in Awgbu, where he discovered that some officials were still imposing levies on small traders despite an earlier government ban.

“Don’t collect levy from them anymore. We will arrest anybody who goes ahead to disregard this. We are committed to protecting the livelihoods of petty traders,” the governor declared.

Highlighting the strategic importance of Ekwulọbịa to Anambra’s development, Soludo noted that while previous administrations had designated Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, and Ekwulọbịa as cities, the latter had been largely overlooked in development plans.

“I expressed gratitude for the community’s support. It is now a people’s movement. Ekwulọbịa is very significant to the state. To become a real city, it requires serious planning. We are proposing the establishment of a dedicated committee on town planning to facilitate this growth,” he added.

The governor also underscored his administration’s commitment to social welfare programmes, including free education, free antenatal care, and delivery services for underprivileged citizens. He commended the resilience and support of the Ekwulọbịa community in advancing the state’s development agenda.

A prominent community leader, Chief Joseph Okafor, lauded the governor’s achievements, saying, “Mr Governor, you have achieved remarkable feats in just three years, not only in Aguata, but across Anambra as well. We are truly thankful for your efforts.”

Similarly, the Chairman of Aguata Local Government Area, Dr. Chibueze Offorbike, praised the transformative impact of Soludo’s administration on the community.

“We have transformed from a rural to a semi-urban and now an urban local government area, courtesy of Governor Soludo. Thank you for making us proud. We assure you of our commitment from the wards to the polling units,” Offorbike said.

Other speakers at the rally also commended the governor’s developmental strides. A cheque of ₦80 million was presented to Soludo and his deputy, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, in support of the governor’s campaign.

The event further reinforced Soludo’s earlier statement that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) remains a “veritable platform” for driving development across all sectors of the state.

The governor had made this assertion during his grassroots engagement tour on July 18, where he visited several markets including Oye Aguluzuigbo, Oye Ichida, Oye Obeledu, and Oye Nimo in Anaocha Local Government Area.

According to his Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, the tour enabled Soludo to interact directly with traders and residents, gathering feedback and reaffirming his belief that “effective governance must begin at the marketplaces where everyday lives unfold.”

The governor was accompanied during the market visits by the Principal Secretary, Joachin Anaeto; Chief of Staff, Ernest Ezeajughi; Chief of Protocol and Deputy Chief of Staff, Chinedu Nwoye; as well as the Chairman of Anaocha LGA, Romanus Ibekwe. A large crowd of party faithful and supporters turned out to welcome the governor at each location.

Source: Informationng