Soludo To Demolish Over 10,000 Shops At Onitsha Market
In Anambra State, Governor Chukwuma Soludo has directed traders at the Onitsha Main Market to vacate their shops within 14 days after authorities marked about 10,000 structures for demolition.
The move followed his decision to shut the market for one week over continued Monday closures, despite a state order ending the sit-at-home practice.
The action came after the governor’s surprise visit to the market, where many shops were still closed.
He said the ongoing shutdown of businesses every Monday was hurting the state’s economy and disrupting public order, warning that traders must operate from Monday to Saturday or leave the market.
Although some traders reopened their shops, many arrived to find demolition marks on their buildings.
They complained that the two-week deadline was too short and said poor transport services and limited banking operations were still making Monday trading difficult across the city.
Traders also argued that the affected shops were built with government approval and that taxes had been paid for years.
They appealed for more time, saying thousands of families depend on the market and that a longer window would allow them to relocate without losing their livelihoods.
