By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Anambra 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.

The law was put in place to ensure safety of lives and wares in markets in the state.

Presenting the new law to the traders at the ASMATA secretariat in the commercial city of Onitsha, with the Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association, ASMATA President, General, (PG), Chief Humphrey Anuna leading the traders, theHouse Committee Chairman, Hon. Innocent Ojike, said the law will give proper protection to the markets in the state.

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

The contents include establishment of a standby water supply outlet with a minimum of 5,000 litres 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, ensuring clear and free access to all boreholes and fire hydrants in the market, as well as easy and free access to roads into and within the market,

It will also ensure provision of operational boreholes in the markets, establishment of a taskforce with a duty to ensure that the activities going-on in the market does not cause road obstructions.

Furthermore, every market shall establish a taskforce to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the law, while ensuring a muster point.

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

According to the set out law, any market that falls short of the provisions of this Law within six months of its enactment shall be issued a Notice of Contravention by the Ministry stipulating the various provision of this Law.

It added that after three months of non-compliance, the State Government shall close the market indefinitely and can only be re-opened for business upon full compliance plus a fine of N500,000.

The law further stated, “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 with a 2-month Imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 for an individual, and N1,000,000 for group or both.”

Commending the lawmakers, the ASMATA PG said that the law was made for the interest of traders adding that it is a welcome development.

He urged the lawmakers to look into the extension of trading hours to about 11 pm daily to cover up wasted Mondays caused by sit-at-home exercise.

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

In his speech, the Main Market chairman, Chief Ezeoha Ezennia hailed 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.

While urging the traders not to relent in embracing the new laws, Ezennia disclosed that early arrangements for regular water supply in the market is in top gear.

•Chairman, Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Commerce, Trade and Industry, Hon. Innocent Ojike