Anambra lawmakers present new law on Market safety, Protection to traders

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

In its bid to ensure safety of lives and wares in markets in Anambra State, the State House of Assembly through its Committee on Commerce, Trade and Industry, has presented a new law termed, “Market Safety and Protection Law, 2024,” to traders in the state.

Presenting the new law to the traders through their umbrella body, Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association, ASMATA, headed by their President General, Humphrey Anuna, at the ASMATA secretariat in Onitsha, the House committee chairman, Innocent Ojike, said it would give a proper protection to the markets in the state.

According to him the law which comes into force on the 27th day of June, 2024, allows each market to ensure the implementation of the contents of the new law within six months.

The contents include, establishment of a standby water supply outlet of a minimum 5000 liters to fight fire outbreaks, ensure strategic places are installed with solar powered CCTV cameras with 24 hours internet access and dedicated staff to monitor all activities in the market and CCTV data backups must be for at least one year interval before deleting.

Others are, Installation of industrial fire extinguisher in strategic places, ensure clear and free access to all boreholes and fire hydrants in the market, and easy and free access to roads into and within the market, ensure operational boreholes in their markets, and establishment of a taskforce whose duties is to ensure that the activities going-on in the market are not causing road obstructions.

Also every market shall establish a taskforce to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of this law and every market shall ensure a muster point.

For the purpose of easy execution market leaders established within the market will raise funds where necessary through levies/contributions known as “safety levy” from Traders and or Shop Owners and the levies shall be accounted for to the market union and report sent to the Ministry.

The law warned that any market that falls to adhere to the provisions of this Law within six months of its enactment shall be issued a Notice of Contravention by the Ministry stipulating the various provisions of this Law which were violated otherwise sub- section “b” shall apply.

It added that if after another three months of non compliance, the State Government shall close the market indefinitely which shall only be re-opened for business upon full compliance plus a fine of ₩500,000.

“Any trader, group or association that fails to comply with the provisions of this Law shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable upon conviction for a term of two months Imprisonment or a fine of ₩100,000 for an individual, N1,000,000 for group or both,” it further stated.

Commending the lawmakers, the ASMATA PG said that the law was made for the interest of traders adding that it is a welcome development and urged the lawmakers to look into extension of trading hours to about 11 pm daily to cover up wasted Mondays caused by sit- at-home exercise.

The ASMATA PG also stressed the need for enactment of a law against sale of inflammable materials in markets as means of curbing fire outbreaks in markets.

Speaking, the Main Market chairman, Ezeoha Ezennia, lauded the lawmakers for their efforts in moving the markets and entire state forward adding that Governor Soludo has made the state better than he met it and urged the traders not to relent in giving him maximum support.

He disclosed that early arrangements on water supply to the market assisted in quenching on two occasions fire outbreaks in his market even as fire extinguishers were installed in every line in the market.

The chairman of Ogbaru Relief (Main)market, Ndubuisi Ochiogu, in his speech disclosed that he installed 300 fire extinguishers and 300 solar lights in his market while the chairman of Iron rod Dealers Atani, Evaristus Ejezie, said that he installed solar lights in his market.