Anambra state government has urged market leaders in the state-owned markets to obtain Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) for shops in their various markets to ensure valid proof of ownership for traders.
Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Charles Uchenna Okafor said this during a meeting with stakeholders and market leaders on Thursday in Awka.
The commissioner was represented by the permanent secretary of the Ministry, Samuel Ike Chinedu.
Okafor said that the decision was reached as a result of several complaints received from local government authorities.
In the complaints, it was noted that some traders violate protocols by refusing to acquire allocation papers for markets located within the domain of their LGs.
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He made it clear that the state government through the Ministry of Trade and Commerce would issue C Of Os only to traders who have obtained their allocation papers from the LGs.
The commissioner explained that a Website would be created to capture and store all data pertaining to traders, who had secured their C of O: their names, shop numbers contained that could be accessed by these traders from any part of the World.
Edwin Muozom from the Nnewi zone noted that some persons in his market sold a particular shop more than five times, stressing that the certificate would end strife among traders with regards to ownership.
The Chairman, BridgeHead Market Onitsha, Sunday Obinze suggested that the information should simply be conveyed without any application of force.
Reacting to the timing, the zonal leader Idemili ASMATA Anthony Onwuetiaka insisted that the cost of registration was high and should not be raised in this election period.
The Special Assistant to the Governor on Trade and Commerce, Albert Ibekwe said the concept was beneficial because traders could offer their C of O as collateral for bank loans.
Ibekwe added that in case of the death of the owner, the certificates could be transferred to the next of kin.
