President, Onitsha Chamber of Commerce Industry, Mines & Agriculture (OCCIMA), Chief Kelvin Obieri wants Anambra governor, Chukwuma Soludo to bear the masses interest at heart.
Obieri, who gave this indication in an interview with our correspondent, says Soludo must implement people-oriented policies targeted at alleviating sufferings, and hunger among the populace.
Its three weeks since Professor Soludo assumed office as Anambra governor Anambra State and expectations are high that he will deliver on his campaign promises to transform the state.
The governor had during his inaugural address on March 17, 2022 said he will focus on some key areas that spell backwardness for Anambra, lift more people out poverty and make the state a liveable place for all.
Obieri urged the governor to also focus on the area of infrastructure, good roads and to also to find a sustainable solution to the issue of insecurity in the state, in order to retain the interest of existing local and foreign investors and attract new ones.
“The insecurity is another issue we expect him to tackle head on, then good roads, people want to ply good roads, the roads should be maintained. The roads done by Ngige, Peter Obi and others you know, are getting bad.
“We expect that there should be a public works department that will be repairing the roads, and we want a legacy project like the airport that was done in Umueri.
“Youths should be empowered, because they are leaders of tomorrow, and tomorrow starts now,” Obieri said.
Commending the governor’s order on ban on touting and suspension of revenue collection on the roads and markets, the OCCIMA suggested that government should create more payment points, to make it easy for traders and individuals to access from their locations.
“There should be offices opened in various areas, like Onitsha; one should be at Federal Housing, one at Fegge, Awada, Omoba, where people can walking to pay or get their tax issues sorted out.
“But when you said they must go to Awka or stock exchange, it will not help, some people does not have time”.
Obieri further added that “all the Okada riders and tricycle operators should have offices where their members can pay, instead of waiting for people on the roads and harassing them.
“Market union should have centre where they can pay and have a way detecting defaulting members.”
He also advised the state government to do more in the area of industry and tourism so as to generate more internal revenue and help create employment, attracting foreign investment and earning foreign currency.
