By Polycarp Ifeanyi
Stakeholders and traders at Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State have appealed to Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo to reconsider his plan to demolish over 10,000 shops in the market.
Instead of demolition, they proposed alternative measures aimed at decongesting and modernizing the market without disrupting livelihoods.
The traders warned that demolishing the marked shops would plunge thousands of families into economic hardship and could exacerbate insecurity and social vices across the state.
They argued that such a large-scale action would not only displace traders but also destabilize the wider economy that depends heavily on the commercial activities of the market.
Governor Soludo had reportedly marked more than 10,000 shops for demolition at Onitsha Main Market, issuing a 14-day ultimatum for traders to vacate the affected structures.
He maintained that many traders had erected shops on walkways, parking areas, and drainage channels, thereby obstructing movement and posing environmental and safety concerns.
With the ultimatum now expired, demolition appears imminent.
However, during a visit by journalists to the market on Tuesday, traders and stakeholders expressed their readiness to cooperate with the government while urging the governor to adopt alternative solutions.
Speaking to journalists, the Chairman of Frontline Bright Street, Chief Martins Emeronye, popularly known as Onwa and a former Chairman of Mandela Square for 15 years, cautioned that proceeding with the demolition could worsen insecurity in the state.
“One shop in this market sustains no fewer than ten people daily. If such shops are demolished, the ripple effects will be severe. We respectfully urge His Excellency to understand that demolishing existing shops without adequate alternatives will be counterproductive,” Emeronye said.
He recalled that when he arrived at the market in 1985, designated parking spaces existed.
However, as the trader population grew, adjustments were made to accommodate increasing commercial activities.
He added that alternative motor parks currently serve vehicles bringing traders and customers to the market and pleaded with the governor to consider the human impact of the demolition.
Similarly, former Secretary of Mandela Line, Mr. Alpha Ogbonnaya, commended the governor’s vision of building a modern market but emphasized that redevelopment should not come at the expense of traders’ livelihoods.
Ogbonnaya proposed the construction of new markets in other locations to operate alongside the existing market.
“If the demolition proceeds as planned, it will cause untold hardship. Each shop represents an entire household—parents, children, extended family members, and dependents. These shops fund education, healthcare, housing, and daily sustenance,” he said.
He suggested that the government could develop an extension of Onitsha Main Market on available land at Nwangene. Alternatively, certain sections could be relocated to the Bridge Head Drug Market after the Ogbogwu traders complete their relocation to a new site. According to him, such measures would decongest the market without inflicting widespread losses.
The immediate past Chairman of Onitsha Main Market, Chief Innocent Ezeoha (Ezennia of Umuchu), provided historical context for the market’s deviation from its original master plan. He explained that major fire outbreaks in 1984 and 1997 destroyed large sections of the market, leading to extensive reconstruction by successive administrations.
“These reconstructions significantly altered the original master plan. Shops were rebuilt and reallocated by various state governments. Since then, the market has evolved far beyond its initial design,” he said.
Ezeoha further noted that thousands of new traders graduate annually from the Igbo apprenticeship system, increasing demand for shop spaces.
To accommodate them, additional structures were erected over time, contributing to the market’s expansion.
He advised the governor to consider relocating specific business clusters rather than demolishing existing structures.
He also highlighted the strategic importance of Johnson Street, which serves as a central corridor for goods distribution and houses the market’s security control tower. Demolishing shops in that area, he argued, could disrupt established logistics and security operations.
Ezeoha cited previous successful relocations within the commercial ecosystem. For instance, Ogbo Abada was moved to a new site at the Bridge Head, the Building Materials Market relocated to its permanent site along the Ogidi Expressway, and the Electronics Market moved from Ogalonye Street to the Premier Brewery site. He urged the governor to replicate such relocation strategies instead of pursuing outright demolition.
“We are ready to support our governor in achieving his development goals. As a listening leader, we believe he will engage us in dialogue so we can offer further clarification. The consequences of this action will extend beyond Onitsha to families across the South-East,” he stated.
Other stakeholders echoed similar sentiments. Chief Chukwudi Izunwanne, a patron of Bright Street, described the proposed demolition as ill-advised and appealed to the governor to reconsider.
The Secretary-General of Bright Street Amalgamated Traders Association, Nnamdi Ede, suggested that if certain structures obstruct walkways or drainage systems, the government could direct line executives to remove only those specific structures rather than implement a sweeping demolition.
Chief Ezennia Moris, a former Chairman of FCT Line, reminded the governor that the trader population has grown significantly since the market’s establishment. He also noted that traders had overwhelmingly supported the governor during the last governorship election and appealed for reconsideration.
In the same vein, Onwuka Samuel, Chairman of No. 9 Bright Street, warned that large-scale demolition would heighten tension and adversely affect the state’s economy.
Collectively, the traders reaffirmed their support for modernization and urban planning reforms but insisted that dialogue, phased relocation, and market expansion would provide a more sustainable and humane path toward achieving the governor’s objectives.
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