By Ebele Iyke Odili/Amaka Isikala
Onitsha – The Anambra State Government has initiated a statewide market stall digitization project to address recurring shop ownership conflicts among traders.
The Special Assistant to the Governor on Trade and Markets, Chief Evaristus Uba, emphasized that the initiative is in the best interest of traders, as it will make financial interactions with the government seamless. “We want to revalidate ownership and digitize shops in the state. We would have each shop captured in the state database with the details of the owner, which will enhance smooth payment of levies attached to the shops.”
The project aims to capture each shop in the state database, enabling the government to know the specific number of shops in each market. Shop owners are required to revalidate ownership with a one-time payment of N10,000 before the end of the first quarter of 2025.
The President General, Anambra State Market Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA), Chief Humphrey Anuna, lauded the revalidation initiative, stating that it will reduce litigations and conflicts over shop ownership.
The Government Consultant for the project, Deacon Paul Emeka, noted that the revalidation policy aligns with the National Digital Economic Policy, enabling traders to use their validated shops as collateral for bank facilities.
Traders have welcomed the digitalization project, citing its potential to prevent disputes over inherited properties. Some traders have already begun the revalidation process, with certificates issued during the flag-off exercise. This initiative is part of Governor Soludo’s vision to make Anambra State a digitally inclusive and economically vibrant state.
