The Market Traders Association of Nigeria (MATAN), Ebonyi State chapter, has officially endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Francis Nwifuru for second-term re-election ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The endorsement was announced during a large-scale statewide traders’ convention held on Tuesday at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
The event attracted traders, artisans, transport operators, and small business owners from the 13 local government areas of Ebonyi State, with over 100 market associations participating in what stakeholders described as one of the largest informal sector gatherings in the state’s history.
In a show of solidarity, several markets across Ebonyi reportedly shut down as members of the informal business sector gathered under the leadership of MATAN.
Speaking during the convention, MATAN Ebonyi State Chairman, Comrade Okpoto Godwin, said the endorsement of Tinubu and Nwifuru was based on the administrations’ impact on traders and the informal economy.
According to him, Governor Nwifuru’s approval and implementation of a digital enumeration exercise for informal sector operators has created opportunities for improved identification, economic inclusion, and government engagement for traders across the state.
“MATAN now serves as a structured voice for the informal sector. The digital enumeration initiative is helping to provide visibility and opportunities for traders and small business owners in Ebonyi,” he stated.
Godwin added that the initiative would enable the government to gather accurate data for effective planning, empowerment programmes, and economic integration of informal sector operators.
Also speaking, Ebonyi State Commissioner for Market Development and Parks, Prof. Nwogo Obasi, praised MATAN for organizing traders into a coordinated and data-driven structure.
He described the digital enumeration project as a key step toward inclusive governance and economic planning in the state.
Chairman of the Ebonyi State Market Development Board, Hon. Ikechukwu Nwankwo, said the convention demonstrated MATAN’s growing influence and ability to unite traders across Ebonyi State.
He noted that the endorsement reflected the confidence many informal sector operators have in the current administration.
Beyond the political endorsements, stakeholders at the convention highlighted MATAN’s efforts in promoting financial inclusion, targeted government intervention, and policy integration for traders and small business owners.
Observers also noted that the Ebonyi model of organizing and digitizing the informal sector could serve as a framework for other states across Nigeria.
The convention ended with a unanimous voice vote by participating associations, reaffirming support for President Tinubu and Governor Nwifuru ahead of the 2027 elections.
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