MATAN mobilises Ebonyi traders for Tinubu, Nwifuru’s second term
The Market Traders Association of Nigeria (MATAN), Ebonyi State chapter, on Tuesday staged a large-scale mobilisation of informal-sector operators, culminating in the endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor
The Market Traders Association of Nigeria (MATAN), Ebonyi State chapter, on Tuesday staged a large-scale mobilisation of informal-sector operators, culminating in the endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Francis Nwifuru for a second-term re-election.
The endorsement was announced at a statewide traders’ convention held at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, where over 100 market associations converged in what organisers described as one of the most extensive gatherings of informal sector stakeholders in the state’s history.
In a coordinated show of strength, markets across Ebonyi were shut down as traders, artisans, transport operators and small business owners from all 13 local government areas participated in the convention under the MATAN umbrella. State Chairman of MATAN, Comrade Okpoto Godwin, who moved the motion for the endorsement, said the decision was anchored on what he described as “measurable impact” by the current administration, particularly in formalising the informal economy.
He cited the ongoing digital enumeration of traders and other informal sector operators as a pivotal reform by the Nwifuru administration, noting that it provides visibility and access to opportunities for previously unregistered economic actors.
“MATAN today represents a structured voice for the informal sector. This endorsement is driven by results. The digital enumeration exercise is a bold step that is giving identity and opportunity to millions of traders,” he said.
According to him, the initiative is laying the groundwork for data-driven governance, enabling authorities to design targeted interventions, expand financial inclusion and integrate informal businesses into formal economic systems.
In his remarks, Ebonyi State Commissioner for Market Development and Parks, Prof. Nwogo Obasi, commended the association for what he called a strategic reorganisation of the informal sector. “This level of coordination signals a new era where the informal sector is no longer fragmented but positioned to partner meaningfully with government. The digital enumeration initiative is central to inclusive governance,” he said.
Similarly, Chairman of the Ebonyi State Market Development Board, Ikechukwu Nwankwo, described the convention as a defining moment in grassroots mobilisation, reflecting growing trust in the current administration. Observers say the convention underscored MATAN’s expanding influence, not only as a representative body for traders but also as a key player in shaping grassroots economic participation.
Beyond the political endorsements, stakeholders pointed to the Ebonyi model—driven by structured data capture and coordinated engagement—as an emerging template for national adoption in organising Nigeria’s vast informal economy. The event ended with a unanimous voice vote across participating associations, reinforcing MATAN’s authority as a unifying platform for traders and signalling strong grassroots backing for both the President and the Ebonyi State governor.
