Christmas: Traders Jubilate Over Cancellation Of Levy In Abraka Market

…We Will Takeover The Market From January, Says Ogedegbe

By Daniel Dafe

Traders in Abraka Main Market are breathing a sigh of relief this Christmas season, thanks to Chief Augustine Usinefe Ogedegbe, the Executive Chairman of Ethiope East Local Government Council.

Ogedegbe has cancelled the Christmas levy, which previously cost traders between N5,000 to N10,000 to sell their goods during the holiday period.

This move which is in line with the MORE agenda of Gov Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration, aims to ease the economic burden on traders, who are already struggling with the harsh economic policies implemented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The cancellation of the levy is a welcome respite for these traders, allowing them to focus on their businesses and provide for their families during the festive season.

Meanwhile, when contacted, the council chairman, Hon. Augustine Ogedegbe said he recently held a meeting with the Egweyas, Emetes, market chairman, the association of market women and others.

According to him, when he resumed office, July 15, he discovered that no revenue was coming from the market and so he decided to find out why.

He continued: “I discovered that there was conflict and that there were attempts to rebuild the market,” saying the information may not have been properly passed to the women who presumed they were about to be pushed out of the market to develop it and give it to those that can afford the shops.

“People now started paying market levy, environmental levy and other levies to some women and none of the money was coming to the government.

“I invited stakeholders to my office and asked them why they have taken over government property.

“After their explanation, I told them that the market belongs to the government. I visited the king to know what was going on with the market. He briefed me also and I wanted to see how I settle the matter.

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“While doing all these, I had to find a way to raise money from the council and we evacuated the two year plus dirt in the market for the health of the traders and the buyers.”

Ogedegbe said on Monday he met with stakeholders and it was finally agreed that traders in the market should not pay any money as levy to anyone.

Furthermore, he said: “I told them the government property must return back to the government.

“From January, the new persons from Ethiope East will start running the market.”

According to him, the council has lost a lot of IGR from that place from the time the issues started.

“We now implement the new minimum wage and it is affecting our finances seriously. We do not have enough money and so we cannot play with any of our sources of revenue,” he said.

On the levy to be paid by the traders from January, he said a demand notice will be sent to them soon.

“We are on our bye-laws bills. Some have been reviewed and the one on revenue for 2025 is coming. It must pass through all the readings. So whatsoever the 8th Assembly of the Ethiope East Legislative Arm approves, we will send them the demand notice,” the council chairman said.

On the rumoured upgrade of the market peddled for years, he said his goal was to settle the crisis first and that the next thing for him to do is to clear the market of any dirt.

He also disclosed that he would visit the market thereafter and see if it needs renovation and upgrade.

His words: “The plan to restructure the market as it was discussed before was not official because I did not meet any file of such in the office.”