Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, the representative of Ogbaru Federal Constituency in Anambra State at the House of Representatives, has urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo to exercise utmost caution regarding the closure of Onitsha Main Market.
He called on the governor to reconsider the decision and reopen the market promptly.
Governor Soludo closed the market on Monday after traders refused to open on Mondays. This defiance followed the state government’s ban on Monday sit-at-home exercises held in solidarity with IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, Ogene voiced concern that the week-long closure would cause additional hardships and economic losses to thousands of traders. He warned that it would also negatively affect the state’s overall economy.
He urged Soludo to embrace dialogue with market leaders to diplomatically resolve the issues at stake.
According to Ogene, “the governor’s directive to close the market was met with widespread public outcry, with many questioning the constitutionality of the action. This led to an instant outburst of protests in Onitsha, resulting in the complete shutdown of the city, a major commercial hub and transit point for the South East and South South regions, causing considerable concern among stakeholders”.
Rep. Ogene suggested that the Anambra State Government should have conducted comprehensive sensitization efforts. These should have involved engaging market leaders and business stakeholders to highlight the improved security situation in the state. He cited the peaceful Christmas season as an example, arguing that such engagement would have built support for the ban on sit-at-home exercises instead of relying on an abrupt announcement.
Ogene further stated: “Available data suggests that the Onitsha market incurs losses of approximately N8 billion every Monday it remains closed. A one-week closure would, therefore, have adverse consequences for stakeholders and the state economy. Furthermore, the market contains perishable goods, which would suffer significant depreciation, an outcome that is unlikely to align with the governor’s intentions, given his background in economics”.
“Onitsha market serves as a major commercial hub, attracting daily visitors from various West African countries. The sudden closure may result in numerous international traders being stranded in Anambra State, thereby projecting a negative image of the nation, particularly as the government strives to promote foreign investment and business opportunities.”
Rep. Ogene called on Governor Soludo to engage in comprehensive consultations with stakeholders. This would foster a deeper understanding of the government’s policy. He advocated for a more sensitive approach, leading to a phased reopening of the market ahead of the initial one-week period. Such measures would help mitigate potential losses, social unrest, and prevailing anxiety within the state.
