Author: Gist Correspondent

Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has warned that the state government could revoke the land occupied by Onitsha Main Market and put it to alternative public use, including the construction of schools or security facilities, if traders continue to defy government directives.

Soludo issued the warning on Thursday during a meeting with leaders of the Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA).

The governor said the law empowers him to revoke market lands across the state for overriding public interest, stressing that such premises could be reassigned to projects that serve the wider good of the people.

According to him, government could lawfully compensate the original landowners, noting that while affected persons could challenge the amount of compensation in court, they could not contest the revocation itself.

To enforce compliance, Soludo directed all local government mayors to monitor markets from 10 a.m. on every market day, including Mondays, and compile records of shops that remain closed. He said defaulters risk sanctions ranging from fines to permanent closure or outright revocation of shop allocations.

The governor, however, assured traders that his administration would strengthen security within and around market premises to address fears of insecurity and restore confidence among business owners.

Soludo further disclosed that the government had, in 2023, designed a plan to remodel Onitsha Main Market into a modern commercial hub, lamenting that the market is currently congested with shanties and illegal structures.

He said the redesign and reconstruction were temporarily shelved due to the absence of a suitable relocation site for traders, but assured that the project would be revisited to equip the market with modern facilities befitting its status as one of the largest markets in West Africa.

“All these efforts are in the best interest of the traders, our children and our grandchildren,” he said.

The governor also summoned leaders of Onitsha Main Market to a roundtable meeting scheduled for Friday, January 30, at 11 a.m. at the Light House, New Government House, Awka, to deliberate on reopening strategies or possible temporary closure to allow the modernisation exercise to commence.

Market leaders present at the meeting included the President-General of ASMATA, Chief Humphrey Anuna; Patron of ASMATA and President of Building Materials International Market, Ogidi, Chief Jude Nwankwo; President of Ogbaru Main Market, Chief Ndubuisi Ochiogu; Chairman of Onitsha Main Market, Chief Okpalugo, among others.