Tag: ASMATA

By Juliana Nwachukwu/ Ngozi Okoli :

The Chairman of New Auto Spare Parts Market, Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Chief Stephen Oforle and traders, have lauded Governor Charles Soludo and ASMATA leaders on the free medical treatment to traders.

Chief Oforle made the commendation while fielding questions from newsmen  in his office stating that, “It is a thing of joy that it is being done here in our market, I also provided a conducive environment for them. Traders trooped out en masse, like yesterday, they over stayed their time due to massive turn up.

“As we help to sensitize traders to make sure the free medical treatment yielded fruits, I as well plead to the state government for the continuation of this free medical treatment and provision of drugs to help in case of critical conditions.”

He however frowned at the inability of Africans especially Ndi Igbo to go for medical check ups, adding that instead they are more interested in their businesses than health, stressing that a healthy person enjoys wealth and they should check their health status at least two or three times in a year.

Director of the ASMATA free medical treatment program, Ambassador Ezeilo Flanklin (who is also a medical biochemist), informed the crowd the event was the final stop in Idemili zone after previously visiting Ekwulobia, Aguata, and Awka zones. He remarked that the medical outreach is part of ASMATA’s commitment to serve the seven zones of its region.

He explained that they have treated over 300 patients in these zones and records so far showed that the most pronounced medical cases were BP and sugar.

The director noted that although ASMATA has adequately provided for the outreach, attendance has been low in some zones. Mobilization efforts need to be improved to ensure more traders take advantage of the free health check-ups.

He advised that one should go for routine check and know the parameters of his body system, vital signs and know if you are healthy or not before you pursue money.

” It is very important to do this continuously, I even said that I will personally reach out to the commissioner for Health, Dr Obidike, he is doing well in primary health in the state but will ask him to find a way to collaborate with ASMATA.

” I urge the state government, governors’ wife, I love what she is doing in health status of Anambrarians, I ask all parastatals of health to come together to form a bond with ASMATA to do this often, because without the health of the traders, they will not trade well to pay tax and governor will have money for all the infrastructural development,” he stated.

Comrade Anayo Ibeabuchi, PRO New Auto Spare Parts stated that New Auto Spare Parts is the venue for about 12 markets under Idemili North and South.

He commended the organisers of the free medical treatment and the traders as well as those who participated in the free medical exercise.

* Nwachukwu and Okoli are of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State *

By Juliana Nwachukwu :

The President General (PG), Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association ( ASMATA), Chief Humphrey Anuna, has inaugurated the new executive of United Petrochemical Dealers and Crushers Association of Nigeria, headed by Mr Onyekachi Nwafor as Chairman.

Inaugurating them at the ASMATA Secretariat on  February 22, the ASMATA PG charged them to live by their oath of office and avoid acts capable of dragging them to ridicule, adding that they should key into Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s move to restore the lost glory of the markets.

“You should be your brother’s keeper by telling your fellow traders the truth and see yourselves as partners in progress which is the APGA slogan of ‘Onyeaghana Nwanne ya”, he pleaded.

In his post inaugural speech, the new Chairman of the Association, Chief Nwafor, said, “What is expected from us now is that we will unite all the members of the market and make sure we follow government directive.

“We need mobile fire service which we were promised to get. We need permanent site that will accommodate the whole traders,” he noted.

On the allegation that the association deals on fake products, he denied the allegation saying, “We don’t produce or sell fake products, we sell processed products, that is already processed petrochemicals,” he affirmed.

“I will handle our opposition as ourselves and if any case that requires the attention of ASMATA leadership, I will kindly surrender to ASMATA to keep a clean hand.

“Once such case is beyond my settlement, I will involve central body of ASMATA to handle it for us. We come to support government,” he assured.

He, however, admitted  that touts exist in the market, saying that they normally dealt with them when they misbehaved, warning, that now they are officially elected and inaugurated, they now have full power to tackle them appropriately.

“There is anti tout squad set up by state government, we will get their phone numbers to work with them toward fighting the touts,” he further added.

On the performance of the ASMATA PG since he assumed office, the new chairman said, “God is using him on the traders. He doesn’t  discriminate whether you are rich or poor. Any problem you have, he will listen to you and solve it for peace to reign . There is peace in the market since he assumed office. We are happy that God gave him to us”.

Speaking, Mr Steven Uka, the Secretary of the market, added, “I promise that I will fully support the chairman, we are one body and will be working together to be in unity in order to get what we are fighting for. 

“Before I was made the secretary, all of them knew me as a peace maker and trust worthy fellow, so if there is any opposition, we will join hands together to tackle them and we will take them as one of us, with time they will change from their bad ways, that’s our belief.

“Soludo is a solution to Anambra State problem, he is doing very well to Ndi Anambra. We are in full support of his work,” he said.

Also, the Assistant secretary, Mr Adolphus Udeh, added, “I am the assistant secretary of the market. We are solidly behind our chairman, if you know the nature of business we are doing, you know that whoever that abandons his machine and goes out, will lose a lot of things, but we wouldn’t mind, we will support him to be here,” he pledged.

*Juliana is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State