By Uwakmfon Dan
Traders in Akwa Ibom State have decried activities of illegal ticketers
at Itam Market, calling on the current administration of Governor Udom
Emmanuel to checkmate such activities, as they are barriers to economic
progress.
While giving insights on the activities of illegal ticketing agents at the Itam Market, Mrs Favour Efanga said there are different sets of those she described as "hoodlums", who disguise as ticketing agents, to extort money, molest and seize wares from gullible traders in the market.
She further revealed that the female traders are usually main targets of illegal ticketers, as their male counterparts could either dodge or withstand pressures from the hoodlums, to buy tickets on Thursdays.
Mrs. Efanga explained that the traders most times, spend more on buying tickets due to multiple ticketing, and said such development is a barrier to economic growth, as they (traders) incur more loses, rather than make profits, at the end of each market day.
She lauded efforts by the government toward salvaging plights of traders in the State, but however appealed to the government to set up an uncompromising enforcement team, to checkmate multiple ticketing in the market.
Another trader, Mrs Enobong Akpan, said the Free-ticketing day has saved them from the hands of illegal ticketers, who frequently tour the Market to extort money from innocent traders.
On the level of enforcement of the Bonanza, Mrs Akpan said it has been successfully enforced in some parts of the market, but however stressed that some unsuspecting gang were still selling tickets in interior parts of the market.
"Like today, they rang a bell in the morning, saying that the old Market Executive has been dissolved, that Traders will buy tickets next Thursday, but we do not know if that directive is coming from the Governor, so we call on the government to come to our aid", she added.
On his part, Mr. Ekpeno Uwem showered encomiums on the current administration of Governor Emmanuel, for restraining sells of ticket every Thursday, saying, Governor Emmanuel has the interest of everyone, including the traders, at heart.
"What I want to tell the Government is they should continue in their good works, so we the Traders will continue to enjoy, at least, now that they are in power", he maintained.
The Tick Free Day Bonanza, is an initiative of Governor Udom Emmanuel, through the Office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Trade and Market Matters.
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