The Anambra State Government is building a textile market at Nkwelle Ezunaka as part of its measures to enhance Anambra’s comparative advantage in commerce. create employment and decongest crowded existing markets in the State.
State Commissioner for Commerce & Wealth Creation, Hon Uche Okafor stated this at the sixth edition of Meet the Media, an interactive parley between the Governor’s media office and heads of ministries, agencies and extra ministerial departments.
The Commissioner said the textiles market was modelled after the success of the Shoe Market also at Nkwelle Ezunaka which was sponsored by the Anambra Small Business Agency (ASBA).
He observed that the textiles market will allow the potentials of the local population in the clothing chain loop to come forth and draw buyers from outside the State.
Hon Uche Okafor explained that in line with Governor Willie Obiano’s policy of operating from the area of comparative advantage, the Ministry of Commerce was focused on maintaining Anambra’s lead in trade and entrepreneurship.
Okafor stated that through engaging youths in artisanship and trade, the Obiano administration had not only grown the State’s economy but also ‘achieved security and stability’ in the State.
He mentioned the international market being built at Umunze and the modern Awka market at Isiagu through private developers as ongoing major market projects under the present government.
The Commerce Commissioner said the new and ongoing market projects were also intended to help create space in the older markets.
‘This administration quickly completed ShopRite at Onitsha so that some people could go there instead of going to Main Market. When the Awka and Nnewi malls are completed, they’ll provide this alternative. Likewise the main Awka market will eventually decongest Eke Awka.’
Okafor noted however that some traders’ insistence on being at the road – frontlines sometimes gave a wrong impression of market congestion citing an example with the Building Materials market Umuokpu where 2000 shops are actually unoccupied.
He attributed the peace in the 63 markets in the State to the inclusive nature of government’s relations with the market leaderships.
‘This administration treats the market leadership as a sort of tier of government. But for Covid 19, more market unions would have had their elections. Even as we have caretaker committees now, the membership is on agreement with the market stakeholders.‘
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