A’Andem Market Palaver: Seeking to Alleviate Traders’ Plights

Editorial

Since the relocation of the old Uyo Main Market to the present Akpan Andem Market for about two years now, there have been a number of major and minor conflicts and grievances between the traders on one side and the market authorities and government on the other that have continued to be generated intermittently.
First, the issue of gross inadequate number of stalls to accommodate the multitude of traders that were displaced at the old Uyo Market as a result of the eventual relocation exercise, which resultant clashes claimed the life of one of the Ministry of Environment task force personnel, and who were promised a smooth reinstatement in the new market, soon became a cause for concern for the traders and other stakeholders alike. The promised smooth reinstatement for the traders never was, and many lost out completely in the deal, resulting in several recorded cases of wanton losses of lives by way of suicides and other horrible means exterminating lives.
Then came the issue of cut-throat levies and taxes with which the hapless traders have cried out severally as being over-burdened by the consultant to the market authorities.
The matter which Weekly Insight reliably learnt has in several occasions virtually led to a breakdown of law and order in the market came to its climax about a week ago when the Uyo Transition Committee chairman, Hon. Ekerete Ekpenyong, in his attempt to assume a holistic control and management of the affairs of the market announced the immediate dissolution of its management committee, and by its extension the consultant to the market management committee.
To this effect, it was reported that the consultant to the market management committee has instituted a court action in order to maintain a firm grip on the management of affairs of the market. Also, it was reported that the executive members of Akpan Andem Market Phase II Welfare Committee, led by its executive president, Mr. Nsikak Amadak, have expressed their displeasure over the TC chair’s action.
According to their claim, the TC chairman had gone straight to the traders on his arrival at the market last week, harassing them and threatening to evict some since, to him, the traders were occupying “illegal structures”.
Without the slightest intent to flout the sub judice principle, and without any attempt to oppose or uphold the position of any party in the matter, this paper’s sympathy lies with the position of the common traders of the market.
Going by the radio announcements made on the orders of the Uyo Local Government Area Transition Committee, while the market’s management committee dissolution was one issue, the issue of major concern to this paper was the slashing of levies and taxes to the barest minimum by the TC chairman, but which the present market authorities have found it difficult to completely adjust to.
For instance, according our investigations, against the TC boss’ order for levy of N20, N40 is charged instead by the market authorities, and an old receipt is still issued to payers so that the new rate is not reflected, thereby making it possible for the market levy or tax collectors to whimsically manipulate the levies and taxes to their advantage.
From the foregoing, the Uyo Transition Committee Chairman, Hon. Ekpenyong, seems to mean well for the market traders of Akpan Andem, at least to the extent of reducing their levies and taxes drastically, and it is the humble opinion of this paper that other major stakeholders in the issue should toe the line of the TC chair in order to make the traders heave a sigh of relief.
It should be every Uyo resident’s collective concern that the traders should not be over-burdened so that the prices of food commodities should remain affordable for us all.