Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has announced plans for the state government to take over the management of Onitsha Main Market following the prolonged adherence of traders to the Monday sit-at-home protest.
Soludo had last Monday ordered the closure of the market for one week over traders’ continued compliance with the protest, a move that sparked tension and protests from market operators.
The governor, however, maintained his stance and subsequently held a closed-door meeting with market leaders at the Government House, known as the Light House, in Awka, where he presented two options to the traders.
A source present at the meeting disclosed that traders opted to reopen their shops on Mondays rather than risk demolition and remodelling of the market.
According to the source, the first option required traders to resume full trading activities on Mondays, comply with attendance requirements, and allow the government to reorganise the market by demolishing illegal structures and plazas, while creating proper spaces and car parks.
The second option allowed traders to continue observing the Monday sit-at-home, which could lead to demolition of the market and a possible two-year reconstruction period to restore it to its original master plan.
“The governor told them that restoring parking facilities in Main Market is an emergency, and any illegal structure erected at the park would be demolished soonest,” the source said.
It was gathered that the traders accepted the first option, paving the way for the removal of illegal structures to create wider roads and restore parking spaces within the market.
During the meeting, Soludo also disclosed plans to set up a committee to recertify all shop occupants in the market, stating that the government must ascertain those operating within the facility.
The governor was also said to have rejected appeals to reopen the market on Saturday, insisting that business activities would only resume on Monday, subject to a fresh assessment of compliance by traders.
Meanwhile, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has declared what it described as a Biafra-wide solidarity lockdown scheduled for Monday, in support of Onitsha traders and to demand the release of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group described the planned shutdown as a peaceful and unified response to the temporary closure of Onitsha Main Market by the Anambra State Government.
IPOB maintained that the Monday sit-at-home protest originated as a peaceful demand for Kanu’s unconditional release, insisting that attempts to portray it as economic sabotage would fail.
The group called on residents across Anambra, Abia, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and other South-East states to observe the lockdown by staying indoors and refraining from commercial and public activities.
It added that the action was aimed at showing solidarity with Onitsha traders and reinforcing calls for Kanu’s release.
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