Enugu North Local Government Area has launched a digital portal for the allocation and management of stalls in markets and plazas across the council, marking a major step toward transparency and efficiency in market administration.
The initiative, spearheaded by the administration of the Council Chairman, Dr. Ibenaku Harford Onoh, is part of ongoing efforts to eliminate issues of double allocation, fraud, and disputes commonly associated with manual, paper-based systems.
Speaking to newsmen after a strategic engagement with shop and stall owners at Ogbete Main Market, Enugu, Dr. Onoh emphasized the importance of building a culture of transparency and accountability in the management of public spaces. He noted that the portal is designed to ensure that all stall owners are recognized and recorded, thus protecting them from future disputes and safeguarding their long-term interests.
“This exercise lays the foundation for a comprehensive database of market occupants within the council,” Dr. Onoh explained. “Each shop or stall will now be tied to a verified individual identity, with data and photographs linked to specific stalls. This is key to ensuring transparency and protecting the rights of both current and future stall owners.”
The Chairman revealed that over 100 cases of double or triple allocations have been recorded across markets in the LGA since he resumed as Chairman, an issue the digital portal aims to address decisively.
“Our decision to start with Ogbete Main Market, one of the most important economic hubs in both the LGA and the entire state. The turnout and level of cooperation from traders show their willingness to embrace a more organized and digitalized system of market management,” he said.
“The benefits of this process are not just immediate—they are long-term. Both the traders and the government now have access to clear, secure, and verifiable records of stall allocations, ownership histories, and transfers. It enhances planning, eliminates fraud, and promotes accountability,” Dr. Onoh added.
During the event, Mr. Edwin Agu, a senior stakeholder and patron of Ogbete Market, gave a vote of thanks on behalf of the traders and patrons, applauding the council for embracing digital innovation in market governance.
Similarly, the acting market leader, Emeka Agina, expressed gratitude to the council chairman for months of sensitization efforts and for ensuring that traders were carried along throughout the process. He pledged full cooperation with the local government moving forward.
