Traders in Onitsha Main Market voiced alarm on Monday after state authorities earmarked over 10,000 stores for demolition, issuing a two-week notice to vacate amid a push to revamp the commercial hub and end lingering sit-at-home protests.
The directive from Governor Chukwuma Soludo follows his abrupt closure of the market for a week starting January 26, aimed at curbing Monday boycotts tied to the banned Indigenous People of Biafra group, which demands the release of its leader.
Soludo, during a surprise inspection, decried the defiance as harmful to the economy and vowed no tolerance for disruptions to business operations from Monday through Saturday.
Despite partial adherence, with many shops reopening, merchants discovered red markings on their premises demanding relocation within 14 days, sparking pleas for an extension.
Clothing vendor Uzochukwu Joseph Okoye told reporters: “We came this morning and saw a lot of paints in our shops that we should move in 14 days. But that 14 days is too short. We cannot do anything within 14 days.”
He added: “A lot of people are in the market, ready to trade despite the fact that we do not see customers. Even when we were coming, transportation was also an issue.”
Okoye urged Soludo to address ancillary challenges like banking and transport on Mondays, saying: “I’m pleading with the governor to also work on transportation and banks so that everywhere will operate fully on Mondays. This morning, some banks were not open, and some transportation companies are not operating.”
Explaining the rationale, he noted the governor views the market as disorganized, but stressed that structures were approved and taxed by prior administrations.
“The governor marked more than 10,000 shops, saying that those more than 10,000 shops should be removed,” Okoye said, warning of dire impacts: “If you calculate the over 10,000 shop by their families, you will have about 50,000 families who will be stranded.”
He appealed for a one-year grace period: “We are even tired of staying at home but the challenges are transportation, banks and other things, which the government has promised to provide adequate security for us.”
Okoye highlighted health tolls, claiming: “Many people’s blood pressure is already high. I took three people to the hospital this morning because of this issue before coming to the shop.”
