By Vincent Ujummadu

The Anambra House of Assembly has called for the construction of affordable mini-shops and markets within the Awka metropolis to curb the menace of street trading. 

This was stated in a motion moved under Matters of Urgent Public Importance by Henry Mbachu, a member representing Awka South constituency I, at plenary, yesterday.

Mbachu, while making his submission, lamented that the only existing market in the Awka Capital Territory could not serve the needs of residents, and it was far from residential areas.

He said people also resorted to building roadside shades to trade because they could not afford the high rent for the lock-up shops.

The legislator stated: “The rising rate of poverty in Nigeria is very alarming, thereby plunging millions of people into extreme poverty. It is nearly impossible to secure a shop within the already established market, and the prices of the limited shops that are available are exorbitant.

“The residents of Awka metropolis, due to hardship, resorted to roadside trading to make ends meet, thereby distorting the aesthetics of  the capital city.”

While reading the resolution, the Speaker, Somtochukwu Udeze, urged corporate organisations to support the government in establishing the mini markets.