The Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has announced that his government will take over the running of Onitsha Main Market.
The governor had last Monday visited the market and also
announced a one-week closure over the continued adherence to sit at home
protest by traders in the market.
The closure had generated a lot of tension, leading to
protests by the traders, while the governor stuck to his gone, insisting that
the market will remain closed for one week. He also held a meeting with the
leaders of the market yesterday, where he presented them with two options.
Though it was a closed door meeting, which held at the Light
House, Awka, a source in the meeting told THISDAY that the traders chose to
open their shops on Monday, against an earlier option of demolishing and
remodelling the market.
The source said: “The governor gave them two options. The
first included; they will resume full trading activities on Mondays, mark
attendance as required, while he regenerate and reorganise the market, demolish
all illegal structures and plazas and create proper spaces and car parks. The
second includes; To continue with Sit-at-Home on Mondays and risk the
demolition of the market and use two-years for its reconstruction 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.”
It was gathered that the traders choose the first option,
which will involve them opening on Monday, and giving the governor the go ahead
to remove illegal structures to make way for wider roads in the market and
restoring its packing space.
During the meeting, the governor told the traders that a
committee will be set up to recertify all occupants of shops in the market, and
that this will commence work soon, insisting that the government needs to know
those who are trading in its market.
The governor was also said to have rejected a plea for the
market to be opened on Saturday, insisting it can only be opened on Monday,
when their compliance will again be re-accessed.
“The traders agreed to the terms, and will on Monday reopen
the market to recommence business,” the source said.
Meanwhile, secessionist group, Indigenous People of Biafra
(IPOB) has declared what it called Biafra-wide solidarity lockdown which is to
hold on Monday in solidarity with Onitsha traders and to demand for Mazi Nnamdi
Kanu’s immediate release.
A press release by the group’s publicity secretary, Mr Emma
Powerful said the total shutdown across Biafraland is a direct, peaceful, and
unified response to the shutting down of Onitsha Main Market for one week by
Soludo.
The release said: “We remind Governor Soludo and his Abuja
sponsors that the Monday sit-at-home originated as a peaceful protest demanding
the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the very cause that has
galvanized global attention to Biafra’s quest for self-determination.
“Attempts to twist this into “economic sabotage” or
“criminality” will fail. The markets thrived during Christmas Mondays without
incident, proving that voluntary compliance stems from genuine solidarity, not
fear. Soludo’s escalation only exposes his desperation to provoke confrontation
at a time when Biafra’s international profile is rising and diplomatic efforts
are gaining traction.
“On Monday, February 2, 2026, we call on all Biafrans
traders, transporters, banks, schools, civil servants, and every sector across
Anambra, Abia, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, and beyond to observe this solidarity strike
peacefully.
“Remain indoors, refrain from all commercial and public
activities, and demonstrate to the world our disciplined resolve. This is not
about disruption for its own sake; it is about standing with Onitsha traders
who are being punished for demanding justice, and reaffirming that no governor
can coerce free citizens into abandoning their rights or their solidarity.”
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