AWKA  – The Anambra State Governor,  Professor Chukwuma Soludo of has been called upon to reduce the recently increased stallage fees in Anambra markets, especially Government-owned markets.

A group of market leaders under the aegis of The Anambra Traders’ Forum (ATF) made the appeal in a statement issued and made available to the journalists in Onitsha, the State commercial hub.

In a statement signed by its media officer, Chief Uzoma Anunihu on Thursday,  the lamented that the fees are becoming unbearable for most traders in the market.

It said the Anambra State Government through the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade, Commerce, and Markets, increased the stallage fees from N12,000 to N30,000.

The group noted that the Anambra markets are mainly populated by women, many of whom are widows who 
said that paying this outrageous amount would be difficult for them.

They called on the State Government to drastically review, the amount downwards to N15,000.

The group also said that the timing for the astronomical increase was wrong, giving the current biting hard time due to inflation and famine as one of the reasons why the traders would find it extremely difficult to pay the fees.

It also said with both Local Government and Governorship elections fast approaching, it is ill-advised to compel the traders to pay such an outrageous amount because they would not be happy voting for the ruling party in the State, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

The group said that as much as the Governor needs money to uplift the state’s infrastructure and empowerment of the downtrodden, especially the youth and women, the people should not be unnecessarily over-taxed and should be allowed to have a new breath#