Igbo Elders urge Soludo to reconsider planned demolition of 10,000 shops at Onitsha Main Market

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

Nnewi — The United Igbo Elders Council (UNIEC) Worldwide has appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State to reconsider the planned demolition of about 10,000 shops at the Onitsha Main Market, warning that the move could trigger widespread hardship, economic dislocation and social distress.

The appeal followed the state government’s issuance of a 14-day notice to traders in the market ahead of the proposed demolition of marked structures.

In a letter addressed to the governor, UNIEC said it recognised and respected Soludo’s constitutional authority to enforce lawful directives, maintain public order and safeguard the economic vitality of the state. The council also acknowledged the administration’s determination to curb practices that undermine productivity and social stability.

However, the elders cautioned that the short relocation timeline could have unintended consequences, given the scale and significance of the market.

The letter, signed by UNIEC’s Director-General and Chairman, Central Organising Committee for its Igbo Legacy Day Celebration, Justice Alpha Ikpeama (rtd), was titled “Graduated advisory appeal on the proposed demolition timeline at Onitsha Main Market.”

According to UNIEC, the Onitsha Main Market is not just a trading hub but a historic commercial artery of Igboland and Nigeria, supporting thousands of families, apprentices, suppliers, transporters and other service providers.

The council noted that many of the affected traders acquired their shops through processes that received government approvals and have consistently paid statutory taxes and levies, contributing significantly to Anambra State’s internally generated revenue.

UNIEC argued that under prevailing economic conditions — including transportation challenges, intermittent banking services, security concerns and broader economic pressures — a 14-day window may be insufficient for orderly relocation of goods and stabilisation of businesses.

It warned that without adequate transition time, the exercise could result in severe economic hardship extending beyond the immediate market community.

“Without adequate transition time, there is a real risk of widespread hardship, economic dislocation, and social distress extending beyond the immediate market community,” the council stated.

The elders therefore appealed to the governor to revisit and extend the relocation timeline to allow for what they described as “humane and orderly compliance.”

They also called for deeper consultations with market leadership, traders’ associations and other relevant stakeholders, as well as the introduction of practical transitional measures to help traders realign with government directives without avoidable loss of livelihoods.

UNIEC stressed that reforms of such magnitude are more effective when firmness is balanced with consultation, realistic timelines and sensitivity to citizens’ lived realities.

The council expressed confidence in Governor Soludo’s reputation as a reform-minded economist and leader committed to inclusive governance, social stability and sustainable development, adding that a review of the demolition timeline would serve the best interests of Anambra State and the long-term peace of Onitsha, regarded as the commercial capital of Igboland.

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