- Sets Aside N20 Million for Abakpa Traders, Launches ‘Keep Abakpa Clean’ Initiative
By Chinelo Ogbodo (Enugu State Correspondent)
The Chairman of Enugu East Local Government Area, Engr. Beloved-Dan Anike, has announced a N200 million interest-free revolving fund for women across the council, with N20 million specifically earmarked for market women and petty traders in Abakpa-Nike.
Anike made the announcement during a campaign sensitisation and engagement with traders and market women in Abakpa, where he also unveiled the “Keep Abakpa Clean” initiative aimed at improving environmental sanitation, decongesting the roads, creating jobs and complementing the urban renewal efforts of the Governor Peter Mbah administration.
According to the council chairman, the N20 million allocation for Abakpa market women would be disbursed without interest or collateral, with particular attention to petty traders and operators of nano and micro businesses.
“The money will be interest-free without collateral. Our target is mainly petty traders and those involved in nano and micro-trades,” Anike said.
He explained that the intervention was designed to enable beneficiaries expand their businesses and strengthen economic activities within the market, as part of the council’s efforts to support the economic transformation agenda of the state government.
The chairman also announced the deployment of massive waste bins across Abakpa market and its environs, alongside the employment of more than 20 persons to undertake daily cleaning activities.
He said the council would also organise monthly community-wide sanitation exercises involving residents, traders and other stakeholders.
Anike urged traders and residents to take responsibility for their environment by avoiding indiscriminate disposal of refuse, particularly in drainage channels.
He further announced plans to end roadside trading and ensure that commercial tricycles and buses use designated loading and offloading points, saying the measures would reduce traffic congestion, improve safety and create a more orderly trading environment.
He appealed to Keke operators, bus drivers, traders and residents to cooperate with the council, stressing that cleaner surroundings and orderly transportation were essential to the safety and development of the community.
The campaign sensitisation culminated in a colourful rally led by Chairman Anike, with thousands of market participants and supporters marching through the market and the Abakpa-Nike dual carriageway.
Addressing the gathering, Anike acknowledged the political support expressed by participants and urged them to sustain their support for Governor Mbah, President Bola Tinubu and APC candidates.
He said the council would continue to prioritise initiatives that directly affect the livelihood, safety and welfare of residents while working with the state government to advance development in Enugu East.
The council boss also urged residents to enrol their wards in the newly onboarded Smart Green Schools within the Abakpa metropolis, including Ifo Smart Green School, Housing Estate Smart Green School, St. Teresa Smart Green School and 82 Division Smart Green School. He noted that the schools are tuition-free and provide free school uniforms to pupils.
Speaking with journalists, the Secretary of Enugu East Local Government, Barr. Uchenna Mbaeke, said the engagement was aimed at sensitising traders ahead of the council election and drawing attention to ongoing projects and interventions of the state government in Abakpa and other parts of Enugu East.
Mbaeke highlighted the dualisation of the Nike-Opi-Nsukka Road as one of the major infrastructure projects benefiting residents and businesses in Abakpa.
He also pointed to the Smart Schools programme of the Mbah administration, noting that Abakpa has three Smart Schools, which he said reflected the administration’s investment in education and human capital development.
He described the local government initiatives as complementary efforts aimed at amplifying the impact of the state government at the grassroots.
The event ended with renewed calls for residents and traders to participate actively in the electoral process and support the administration’s development programmes at both the state and federal levels. NNL.
