Anambra State government has officially taken over the Secretariat of
the Amalgamated Traders Association ASMATA, located at Number
fifty-two Modebe Avenue, Onitsha.
This followed the disbandment of its operations, by the present administration.


Briefing newsmen, when he led members of the new executive, security
personnel, as well as ASMATA State taskforce to the formal take over,
of the office, the Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Dr. Christian
Madubuko, re-affirmed the State government’s commitment to ensuring
that Anambra remains the first choice investment destination and hub
for industrialization.


Dr Madubuko noted that the present government is duty bound in
sanitizing the system and ridding the State of criminal activities, by
providing an enabling business environment where traders will co-exist
peacefully.


 The Commissioner, had earlier while conducting the team round the
office, discovered that series of receipts, for all manner of fees and
Commerce tickets, as well as Internally Generated Revenue, meant to be
collected for the State government were not accounted for.
 Dr. Madubuko, who recounted that the Secretariat was the collective
effort of the traders, decried that the former leadership of the
Association constituted itself as government of its own, noting that
the official take – over is a freedom for traders.


The Commissioner advised the new executive to lead with the fear of God.
 In a remark, the President-General, Chief Ikechukwu Ekwegbalu,
reassured of working with the  members of the new executive, in boosting the State
Internally Generally Revenue, as well as prioritizing trader’s
welfare, among others.