It was a moment of overwhelming joy and visible relief at Abakpa Market in Enugu East Local Government Area on Tuesday, 3rd June 2025, as traders danced and sang in celebration following the visit of the Enugu State Market Monitoring Team led by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Market Affairs, Hon. Dr. Chinedu Mbah.
The visit, which formed part of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s ongoing statewide market sanitation tour, signaled a decisive end to illegal taxation and revenue exploitation that had plagued traders for years. The jubilant atmosphere in the market reflected the collective gratitude of the business community, many of whom hailed the Governor for coming to their rescue through concrete policy actions.
Welcoming the delegation, the Chairman of Abakpa Market, Mr. Bernard Nnaji, expressed appreciation to the state government for responding to the plight of traders. He assured the SSA of the traders’ willingness to collaborate with the state’s revenue reforms and to support efforts aimed at improving the commercial environment in the market.
The interactive session with the traders allowed for a sincere exchange of concerns and suggestions. The SSA, Hon. Dr. Chinedu Mbah, appreciated the traders for their unwavering support for Governor Peter Mbah during the 2023 elections. He emphasized that the visit was not only to express gratitude but also to establish a direct engagement line between the government and the market community.
“Our mission is clear: to sanitize the revenue system, eliminate illegal levies, and create an environment where our traders can thrive without harassment. Governor Peter Mbah is deeply committed to your welfare, and no trader in this market will again be subjected to unauthorized taxes or leadership manipulation,” Hon. Mbah stated.
Traders raised several pressing issues, including the imposition of community levies, illegal taxation by unauthorized agents, and concerns about the legitimacy of the current market leadership, which they alleged was appointed by the traditional ruler rather than elected democratically. They also appealed for urgent infrastructure upgrades, particularly the provision of a transformer and public toilet facilities.
Hon. Dr. Mbah, in response, promised that all grievances would be taken seriously and forwarded to the appropriate channels. He assured the market community that their welfare remains at the heart of the state government’s market reforms and that steps would be taken to investigate and address the leadership concerns and eliminate every trace of exploitation.
Traders, in their responses, lauded Governor Mbah for his infrastructural strides across the state and expressed satisfaction that, for the first time, their voices were being heard. They also declared their readiness to comply with the standardized tax payment system introduced by the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS), provided it remains transparent and fair.
“This is a new dawn for us. Governor Peter Mbah has wiped our tears and given us hope that governance can truly work for the people. We now feel protected, and for the first time in years, we believe things will get better,” said one of the traders who joined others in dancing and singing praises to the Governor.
The Abakpa Market visit marks another milestone in the Mbah administration’s aggressive reforms to sanitize revenue collection processes, enhance market infrastructure, and build confidence among traders across Enugu State. With renewed hope and commitment, the traders pledged to become partners in progress toward building a more inclusive and prosperous Enugu.
