Enough Is Enough! Akpan Andem Traders Protest Against Partial Opening Of Market … Decry Multiple Taxations

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By UbongAbasi Ise


Traders selling at Akpan Andem market in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, have decided to question the rationale behind the continued opening of the commercial facility on partial basis while other markets in the environs are fully opened for daily sales.

At around 4.00pm today, the traders massively mobilized themselves and embarked on peaceful protest within the market premises, saying it is enough of the hardship imposed on them by the Akwa Ibom State government through continued partial lockdown of the market.

Speaking with our correspondent, Mr. Etim Okon, a trader in the market, said markets like Itam, Okpokpo and several others in the state had since opened for daily business, wondering why the case of Akpan Andem market is different. Okon further noted that markets with massive populations at Aba and Onitsha in Abia and Anambra states respectively had long opened for traders to do their businesses, while Akpan Andem with least crowd coupled with their strict observation of physical distancing is allowed only to open thrice a week, bemoaning how Akwa Ibom government refuses to consider their plight. 

He said even with restrictions, the traders at Akpan Andem market are still made to pay for daily tickets to different agencies despite the state government’s orders claiming to disallow the sales of tickets to market traders in the state.

The market man, while lamenting how difficult it is to make sales within the limited time approved by the State government, said the traders are still slammed with outrageous electricity bills that they never use, stressing how difficult it is for them to feed their families.

When asked whether the state government has provided the traders with palliatives to cushion the effect of the lockdown, Mr. Etim Okon said if there is any, it would not reach the market people.

Another trader in the market, who refused to be named, wondered why the fight against Covid-19 pandemic takes center stage at Akpan Andem while people in other walks of life go about their normal businesses. He said the state government should relax all restrictions on the market.

It would be recalled that the Akwa Ibom State government, few months ago, gave guideline on partial reopening of the economy after total lockdown was ordered due to the rising fear of Covid-19 pandemic. On the state government’s directives for markets on precautionary measures against Covid-19 pandemic, three days (Monday, Wednesday and Saturday) were designated for sales starting from 10.00am and ending by 4.00pm. 


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