Riot Looms In Onitsha Main Market Over Construction Of Illegal Shops

...Traders Accuse Chairman Anambra Physical Planning Board Of Compromise


Anger is rising daily among traders of the famous Onitsha Main Market Anambra State that if nothing urgent is not done by the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano to contain it may lead to rioting by the entire traders of the market.

Newsmen monitoring the market reliably gathered that the anger was as a result of the continuous construction of new shops inside the market Sole Motor Park which was initially stopped by the authorities of the Anambra State physical planning board led by one Bar. Chike Obiekwe a Legal Practitioner on the order of governor Obiano.

Newsmen investigation showed that the construction which was kick-started last December night and which has been going on only in the nights by yet to be identified higher government official was initially stopped by the authorities of the Anambra State Physical Board after a bitter protest by traders against the project.

According to the traders they are kicking against the construction because the area is the only remaining Motor Park inside the market for loading and offloading of their wares as well as the only existing exit point during emergencies like fire outbreak.

When newsmen visited the site of the construction, it was observed that work is progressing fast and has reached to decking level despite stiff opposition from traders.

Reacting to this development, a group of traders who was seen near the construction site who describes themselves as concerned traders of Onitsha Main Market Association (CTOMMA) lamented bitterly to newsmen that it is the highest height of insensitivity on the part of the state government to continue to work on the project despite traders opposition to it.

While highlighting the earlier notice of fourteen days ultimatum issued by the state authorities of the Anambra State Physical Planning Board to people handling the project to stop, they wondered how the government should renege on their earlier order of stopping the project and alleged that it appears that the authorities of state physical planning board has compromised.

Saying that continuous execution of the project has dampened the morale of traders, Mr. Onyeka Tochukwu the leader of the group accused Bar. Chike Obiekwe the Chairman of the State Physical Planning Board of disappointment of traders by not hearkening to his earlier assurances to the them that the project will not go on and passionately appeal to Gov. Obiano to urgently intervene and ensure that the project is discontinued adding that the shops if allowed to exist will add more danger to the market during emergencies as the area is the only existing exit point during emergencies like fire outbreak.

Adding his voice his deputy, Mrs. Philomena Igwe aka Ochiora Umunwanyi called on Gov. Obiano to intervene quickly as well as appealed to incoming Governor Prof. Charles Soludo to look into the problem of the market and cancel the project to save the traders from suffocating especially during emergencies.

But reacting to this when contacted, Bar. Chike Obiekwe the chairman of Anambra State Physical Planning Board denied ever compromising on the matter but noted that his board is set to execute the Governor’s order of stopping the project.

Reminded that despite this order that the project is ongoing, he stated that the agency don’t mind such developments adding that the practice is that once the governor gave final nod that whether such project is a skyscraper that they will demolish it.

He noted that the agency has concluded every arrangement for the demolishment of the construction and submitted to the governor and once the governor gave them the go ahead with the approval of the logistics, that they will move straight to demolish the stores.

While saying that he is aware that a lot of people has been using one social medial or the other to blackmail him about the project, he stated that everything concerning the project is now at the doorstep of the governor and any hi time he gives them green-light they will execute their job.

Soludo will handle it

Gov. Soludo is coming soon... For now, everyone should stand down!!!
The chairman wants to cash out before the end of the present administration.

Onitsha?