Governor Soludo warns that Onitsha Main Market may be demolished and converted into a school if traders fail to reopen shops on Monday.
Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has issued a strong warning to traders at the Onitsha Main Market, declaring that the facility could be demolished and repurposed into a school if business activities fail to resume on Monday.
The governor made this statement while expressing concern over the persistent closure of shops in the popular commercial hub, despite government assurances on security and economic stability in the state. According to him, the prolonged shutdown of the market is negatively affecting the state’s economy and undermining efforts to restore normalcy.
Governor Soludo emphasized that the Onitsha Main Market is a public asset meant to drive commerce and provide livelihoods, not to remain idle indefinitely. He stressed that if traders are unwilling to utilize the space for its intended purpose, the government may consider converting it to serve other pressing public needs, including education.
He further noted that Anambra State faces a shortage of educational infrastructure, adding that transforming the market into a school would benefit the broader society if traders continue to disregard government directives.
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The governor urged traders to return to their shops immediately, assuring them of improved security measures and the state government’s commitment to protecting lives, property, and businesses. He maintained that Monday’s reopening deadline would be strictly enforced.