The Anambra State government has sealed off the electronic market on Iweka Road in Onitsha due to its refusal to relocate to a new, permanent site in Atani, Ogbaru Local Government Area.
Comrade Celestine Anere, Managing Director of Operation Clean And Healthy Anambra State (OCHA Brigade), stated that the decision to close the market stemmed from its non-compliance with city planning and poor waste disposal practices. He highlighted that the current market site is not aligned with the city’s development plan, necessitating the decongestion of the Iweka axis.
Comrade Anere explained that the market’s closure was a last resort after traders repeatedly ignored government notices and appeals to move to the new location. He emphasized that the new site in Atani is well-planned, with necessary facilities to support a conducive environment for buying and selling.
Anere assured traders that the new market site is designed to offer better conditions and urged them to relocate promptly. He also stressed that no individual or union has the authority to establish or plan market locations without state government approval, calling the traders’ resistance futile. He encouraged traders to seize the opportunity for a more organized business environment, free from fraud and touting.
