The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Peter Mbah on Market Liaison, Chief Chinedu Mbah, and the President of the Enugu State Market Amalgamated Traders Association (ESMATA), Chief Chinwuba Igwesi, have outlined the reasons behind the endorsement of Governor Peter Mbah for a second term by traders across Enugu State.
They made this known during an edition of E DON HAPPEN, a Pidgin English programme on Sunrise 96.1 FM, where they discussed the endorsement, the administration’s market policies and traders’ expectations ahead of the 2027 governorship election, and monitored by EnuguDaily.net
Chief Chinedu Mbah attributed the traders’ support to what he described as the governor’s commitment to creating a more favourable business environment, particularly through the restoration of regular commercial activities on Mondays, the harmonisation of market levies and improvements in market infrastructure.
He said the suspension of Monday sit-at-home activities had helped traders recover business opportunities previously lost to the shutdown of markets and commercial establishments.
According to him, the administration has also improved the security environment for traders and taken steps to address concerns over unauthorised collections by individuals and groups operating in markets.
On taxation, the governor’s aide said the introduction of a unified tax system had brought previously fragmented collections under a more coordinated arrangement, allowing government revenue to be channelled towards public development.
He also disclosed that the administration had abolished a ₦200 levy previously imposed on petty traders selling goods without permanent shops, describing the measure as a response to complaints from affected traders.
Chief Mbah maintained that the endorsement reflected the traders’ assessment of the administration’s policies and performance rather than pressure from the government.
He said the market leaders who recently visited the Government House were representatives of traders across the state’s 17 local government areas and were preparing for a larger rally to demonstrate their support publicly.
The governor”s endorsement, he added, was also linked to expectations surrounding major commercial projects, particularly the proposed Idodo International Market, which he said would accommodate about 50,000 lock-up shops.
He explained that the planned market, alongside proposed cargo-handling arrangements and opportunities for traders to travel directly to China to purchase goods, was expected to strengthen Enugu’s position as a commercial destination.
Chief Mbah further said traders stood to benefit from the administration’s broader economic expansion agenda through increased commercial activities associated with conferences, public events and construction projects.
He claimed that contractors handling government projects, including smart schools and hospitals, had been directed to source building materials from businesses within Enugu State where possible, creating additional opportunities for local traders.
On market infrastructure, he listed the provision and improvement of toilets, electricity transformers and access roads among interventions he said the administration had undertaken or initiated in response to traders’ needs.
Responding to concerns that traders who did not participate in the endorsement might face sanctions or victimisation, Chief Mbah dismissed the possibility, insisting that the government had not directed anyone to compel traders to endorse the governor.
He urged traders and other eligible voters to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the 2027 elections, stressing that political support would have to be translated into votes.
For his part, ESMATA President, Chief Chinwuba Igwesi said the decision to endorse Governor Mbah was reached collectively by the association’s members following consultations and an assessment of the administration’s response to their concerns.
He said the association had previously constituted a committee to identify challenges affecting traders in different parts of the state and submitted its findings to the government.
According to him, some of the issues raised received prompt attention, with engineers and officials assigned to address concerns relating to infrastructure and electricity in affected markets.
Chief Igwesi identified electricity supply, access roads and other basic facilities as continuing needs in some markets but expressed satisfaction with what he described as the government’s responsiveness to complaints submitted by the association.
He said traders were encouraged by the administration’s willingness to engage with market leaders and respond to specific problems, adding that the association expected the process to continue.
The ESMATA president also called on traders and other residents to support the governor’s second-term ambition, arguing that the administration should be allowed to continue its development programmes.
The endorsement comes as political activities begin to gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election, with traders’ economic interests emerging as a key part of the debate over the performance of the Mbah administration.
