News Investigators/ The Anambra State Board of Internal Revenue has begun enumeration and profiling of traders across markets in the state aimed at gathering data for effective planning and market development.
Greg Ezeilo, Chairman of the Board made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Awka.
The chairman said that the board had trained 100 staffers of the board for the programme and trainees are well prepared for the exercise as scheduled by the board.
Mr Ezeilo said that the trained personnel were equipped with digital tools and specialised software to carry out the enumeration seamlessly and efficiently.
“It is expected that the staffers will gather reliable data to plan with to enable the government budget and make adequate provisions for traders.
“We can only plan well if we have a number of traders or shops in our database and with a definite record, a great change in the markets architecture is achievable,” he said.
The chairman assured the traders that the exercise was not aimed at increasing revenue, but primarily focused on gathering accurate data for effective planning and development of market infrastructure across key markets of the state.
He appealed to traders to cooperate with the enumerators, saying that 10 major markets had been selected for the initial take off.
The markets include Onitsha Main Market, Ose-Onitsha market, Relief Market, Bridge-head market, Ochanja market and Drug Market all in Onitsha.
Others are Obosi Old /New Spare parts market, Nkpor Old/New Spare parts markets, Nnewi markets and Ogidi building materials markets.
According to him, the exercise is a continuous process, adding that as soon as the traders and shops in the top 10 listed markets are finally captured, the next phase will be traders and markets classified as sub- urban while the third phase will be the rural markets.
Mr Ezeilo urged the traders to be honest with the facts to be given out to its enumerators as the exercise was not solely at increasing revenue but it is primarily focused on gathering accurate data for effective planning and development of market infrastructure.
He said that the project sought to capture the actual number of shops, stores, and traders operating in the state’s commercial centres and also to create a solid security network in the markets across the state.
Mr Ezeilo said that the profiling would include capturing personal information such as names, shop ownership details, and date of birth to create a comprehensive database that would allow quick access to trader information at the touch of a button.
“All critical stakeholders have been fully briefed and are involved in the process.
Mr Ezeilo disclosed that the board had already engaged market stakeholders, including market chairpersons and line leaders, to ensure cooperation to the initiative.
He assured that both internal and external security operatives would accompany the enumerators to ensure their safety during the exercise and appealed to the traders to comply with the team without fear of endangering their businesses.
He emphasised that proper enumeration would not only enhance infrastructural planning but would also curb unregulated activities in the markets, including unqualified individuals vying for leadership positions in the market.
“The governor’s intention is to take our markets and our traders to the next level to meet international market standards,” he noted
He urged market leaders to cooperate fully with the enumerators and to coordinate the exercise, including providing hotlines to report any challenges that may arise.
NAN
