By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Markets, Chief Evaristus Ubah, has dismissed reports claiming that no fewer than 10,000 shops at the Onitsha Main Market have been marked for demolition, describing the figure as unfounded and misleading.
Ubah clarified that the Anambra State Government never arrived at, nor confirmed, any specific number of shops slated for demolition. According to him, the structures marked are illegal and were never part of the original design of the market.
“There was never a census or confirmation of 10,000 shops. I don’t know where that figure came from,” he said. “What was marked are illegal structures—these are not properly constructed or approved shops.”
He, however, emphasized that the 14-day ultimatum issued to owners of the illegal structures remains non-negotiable, urging affected traders to take immediate steps to remove the structures.
Ubah explained that during a meeting between traders and Governor Soludo, two options were presented: a total rebuilding and remodelling of the Main Market, or a phased regeneration of the market to restore its proper structural status.
“We agreed to first identify illegal structures that were not part of the original market design. On Saturday, we went to the market for identification, and on Sunday, those illegal structures were marked. There was no counting or census of the structures marked for demolition,” he stated.
He disclosed that an inter-ministerial committee was constituted to oversee the exercise. The committee comprises representatives from the Ministries of Lands and Works, Physical Planning, Urban Regeneration, as well as the Mayor of Onitsha North Local Government Area, with himself as a member.
“All the structures marked are illegal, and those are the ones that will be affected,” Ubah stressed.
According to him, the government’s objective is to restore the original master plan of the Onitsha Main Market, including reopening blocked drainage channels, restoring fire-fighting facilities, and reclaiming parks and open spaces that were lost due to indiscriminate development.
Addressing concerns about the fate of traders affected by the demolition, Ubah said there were currently no plans for relocation or compensation, noting that illegal structures do not qualify for such considerations.
“These traders know their shops are illegal. Government is under no obligation to pay compensation or provide relocation for illegal structures. In fact, these are the structures that created most of the problems in the market,” he said.
Ubah also dismissed allegations that some traders were attempting to induce government officials to spare their shops, insisting that members of the inter-ministerial committee could not be compromised.
“With the calibre of people involved in this committee, there is no way inducement can influence the process,” he added.
