Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has promised to install Closed-Circuit Television CCTV cameras in Onitsha markets, as well as within Upper Iweka axis ahead Christmas and New Year celebrations.
He said the project was part of his administration’s agenda to reposition Onitsha markets to meet up global standards.
Soludo spoke during a Business Roundtable with Anambra manufacturers, importers, and exporters, with the theme, “From Import to Industrialization for Export,” organized by Ministry of Commerce and Industry led by its Commissioner, Dr. Christian Udechukwu.
The engagement was targeted at ascertaining challenges facing manufacturers, importers, and exporters with a view to solving them and attract more investors to develop the state and achieve more growth trajectories.
According to Soludo, the CCTV camera project that the state government was for easy tracking of criminal elements who usually take advantage of the Yuletide to rob residents and visitors alike.
“The CCTV camera, when installed, will help in dictate shop burglars, handbags snatchers, touts, illegal revenue collectors, kidnppers and other sharp practices in the market.
The governor said his administration has a huge agenda of encouraging production for export.
He promised that reforms are on course to make sure that the processes for approvals in ANSIPPA is sped up without bottlenecks, pointing out that his government is also taking a second look at facilities in the agency to ensure existence of “multi doors” for easier access by prospective investors.
He cited the present administration’s huge agenda in agriculture including the palm and coconut revolution which will ultimately create a new ecosystem around the state.
Soludo revealed that government is building up its land bank, pointing out that they are also making efforts to ensure that the processing time for acquiring land C of O gets down to 72 hours.
While assuring that government will create road markings to differentiate red zones from free Zones for motorists, he stated that government will address the issue of abuses by ARTMA officials including taking another look at their fines, though bearing in mind that what they are doing is for the overall interest of the public.
He noted that discussion is ongoing to explore the possibility of generating captive power using gas, promising that by December, Upper Iweka will wear a new look and become the safest place, to make Anambra a true investment destination.
Speaker after speaker raised issues militating against them to include Monday sit-home, bad roads in and around Onitsha, especially Owerri Road, difficulty in processing VISA, difficulty in procurement of C of O, insecurity, touting, revival of the Onitsha Seaport, among others.
