The Abia State Govern-ment wants the Umuchieze Cattle Market to be transformed to a regional market to serve both the South East and South South zones of the country within the shortest possible time frame.
Comrade Chris Akomas, the deputy governor mentioned this when he inaugurated the reconstituted management committee of the market in his office at Government House, Umuahia, last weekend.
He described the government’s desire to upgrade the market as one of the present administration’s push towards the socio-economic development of the state and to boost its internally generated revenue.
Akomas told members that government demand for them to work out the modalities for the actualisation of the dream which he argued would create business opportunities for various trades and services.
“Considering the caliber of your membership” the deputy governor maintained” the government has no doubt that this lofty dream would be achieved as soon as possible to fast track the economy of the state’s.
Explaining that the effects of the current global financial crisis had been enormous on the third world countries, he noted that on the other hand it had forced the government to look inwards for respites.
The deputy governor who assured the committee of the commitment of the government for the success of the project, told the members to feel free to table its handicaps before the government for solutions.
Warning that government would not tolerate any form of unhygienic conditions in and around the market, he assured traders of the government readiness to partner with the security agencies to ensure the safety.
He warned the members against using their positions in the committee to forment trouble in the market and to consolidate of the existing harmonious relationship existing between the traders and the host community.
Akomas said the government took time to ensure that all the stakeholders that include the host community, Huasa community, concerned ministries, and Umunnechi local government council were included in the committee.
“You are not appointed to create divisions among the traders and the stakeholders, but you are appointed to manage the market and bring up to the level and standard the government desired”, he said.
In his response, Mr Sylvester Akpagu, the chairman of the committee said they were impressed that the government had found them capable of handling the project and assured of their total commitment to the realisation of the dream. He appealed to the government to always leave its door open to the committee for dialogue on any issue critical to the successful management of the market and solicited the corporation of the stakeholders.