Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has marked over 10,000 shops for demolition in Onitsha Main Market, giving traders a 14-day ultimatum to move.
The move follows the governor’s closure of the market for a week due to traders’ observance of Monday sit-at-home, despite government directives to abandon the practice.
Soludo had described the perennial closure of businesses on Mondays as unacceptable and warned that the government would no longer condone actions capable of undermining economic activities and public order in the state.
He had issued a stern warning to traders in the state, insisting that they must open their shops for business from Monday to Saturday or relocate elsewhere.
Despite the partial compliance with the government order to shun the Monday sit-at-home, traders at Onitsha lamented that they came to their shops only to find out that over 10,000 shops have been marked for demolition in the market, with a 14-day deadline for them to move out.
Traders are pleading for more time, citing the short notice and lack of alternative spaces.
They argue that the demolition will affect thousands of families and disrupt livelihoods.
“Two weeks is too short… Let the governor give at least one year so we can plan our lives,” said trader Uzochukwu Joseph Okoye.
