… As Commissioner for Trade, Commence and Investment, SOKOM, S.A Artisans, govt officials visit the market, read riot Act to the Technicians
Prime West Company has been introduced as the sole developer of the Avu Cluster Market housing Artisans and Technicians. The introduction was done by the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and investment Hon Chief Barr Rex Anunobi popularly known as SOKOM during a visit and Town Hall meeting with member of Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association NATAN yesterday.
Addressing NATAN members, Barr Anunobi described as a welcome development the Town Hall meeting with members of NATAN and stakeholders adding that he came with other top government officials to interface with the leadership and membership OF NATAN and to know their challenges. He said that the intention of government in moving them to their present location was to enhance their businesses and to have a seamless operation noting that the movement also expects them to reciprocate the gesture by being orderly and peaceful in addition to ensure that all their financial obligations to the government are adhered to.
He however regretted that many of them have deviated from their core objective of doing their legitimate businesses into conniving with land grabbers and illegal developers to sell government lands in the area and indulge in illegal development warning that government will not tolerate such irresponsible acts by anybody. He cautioned against such unwholesome practices stressing that the master plan of the entire place is with government insisting that on no account should anybody tamper with it while assuring them that the government has all the powers to wield the big stick to defaulters.
He reminded them that NATAN is not a parallel government to the state government noting that Governor Hope Uzodimma is a man of peace and who is desirous in seeing them succeed in their businesses and also expect a reciprocal cooperation particularly in revenue generation stating that the government intends to use them as bedrock for an increased revenue generation.
In his own speech, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Artisans Hon Chief Ethelbert Ukonu further advised NATAN members to adhere strictly to the instruction of the government and not to go outside the specifications of the government. He added that he has the mandate of the Governor to formalize their operation and to see that they are operating within the acceptable standard as laid down by the government
The high point of the visit was the inspection of the projects by the Developer Prime West as the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Company Prince Jeff Ukachukwu took the team round the area.
The Commissioner was accompanied tp the visit by the GM OCDA Hon Frank Nzewudo and many Special Advisers
