Governor Charles Soludo has demolished some part of the popular Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State.
The Mayor of Onitsha North local government area, Hon. Emeka Orji reportedly led the group that carried out the demolition on Sunday, March 1.
Governor Soludo, during his visit to the market early February, described it as an eyesore, saying that construction in the market was not in line with the original master plan.
He said that traders built shops and plazas on top of drainages, as well as parking spaces and other unauthorized places; adding that his government will demolish the unauthorized structures and remodel the market to restore its lost glory.
Traders and stakeholders in the market had resisted the arrangement. They begged Soludo to build brand new market elsewhere, instead of demolishing existing ones – saying that the move will affect people’s means of livelihood, cause hardship and insecurity, among other things. But the governor remained adamant on his refusal.
On Sunday morning, March 1, the state government, through the Onitsha North local government, mobilized bulldozers to the market and started the demolition.
Traders, who spoke with New Telegraph at the scene of the demolition, on Sunday, shared their regrets, saying that Anambra government went ahead to demolish the market without providing any alternative for them.
A trader in the market, Sunday Ugochi, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, expressed shock that the state government went ahead with the planned demolition, desire pleas from traders.
“I’ve lost so many things here. I never knew Soludo will carryout this threat so fast. I did not evacuate any of my goods, but when I heard about this demolition and came out, everything is destroyed,” he wept.
