By Chimdiogo Amuh 

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has warned that his administration may revoke the land on which the Onitsha Main Market is situated and repurpose it for other public uses, including the construction of schools or security facilities, if traders continue to defy government directives.

Soludo made the statement on Thursday during a meeting with leaders of the Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA), held at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Awka.

According to the governor, the law empowers him to revoke market lands across the state in cases of overriding public interest and deploy such lands for alternative uses that benefit the wider society. He noted that affected landowners would be compensated, adding that while compensation amounts could be contested in court, the revocation itself could not.

He directed all local government mayors to begin monitoring markets from 10 a.m. on every market day, including Mondays, and to document shops that fail to open for business. Such shops, he warned, could face sanctions ranging from fines and permanent closure to outright revocation.

The governor assured traders that the state government would provide adequate security within and around market premises to address concerns over insecurity and restore confidence among traders.

Soludo further disclosed that the state government had, in 2023, developed a plan to redesign and modernise the Onitsha Main Market, describing its current state as being cluttered with shanties and illegal structures. He explained that the project was temporarily shelved due to the absence of a suitable relocation plan for traders during reconstruction.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eventually modernising the market and equipping it with modern facilities, with the goal of transforming it into a befitting structure for what is widely regarded as the largest market in West Africa.

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

The governor also summoned leaders of the 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 the reopening of the market or a temporary closure to allow the modernisation project to commence.

Market leaders present at the meeting included the President-General of ASMATA, Chief Humphrey Anuna; ASMATA Patron and President of the 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.