Despite the nationwide #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests, residents of Onitsha, a major commercial hub, continued their regular business activities today. ABS News conducted a survey of several markets in Onitsha, observing bustling streets and steady human and vehicular movement.
Markets such as Oseokwodu, Onitsha Main Market, and Ochanja Market were visited, revealing traders actively displaying their goods and engaging in transactions. Market leaders, including Chief Ikechukwu Umeanozie of Oseokwodu Market, Chief Innocent Ezeoha of Onitsha Main Market, and the chairman of Ochanja Market, emphasized that they had advised traders to open their shops, disassociating themselves from the protests. They expressed concerns that the protests could lead to property damage.
The market leaders noted a reduced turnout of buyers, attributed to rumors that the markets would be closed. Traders like Chief Chijoke Ezeobi, Mr. Christopher Isiagu, and Mr. Thomas Onyia reported low patronage, as many of their customers come from various parts of the country. They remained hopeful that business would improve soon and urged absent traders to return, assuring them that the protests had not affected the markets.
Other traders, including Mrs. Ugochukwu Okeke and Chief Ogonna Onukeluobi, voiced concerns over the high prices of food items. They called on the Federal Government to address the rising costs of fuel and goods, highlighting the severe impact on the poor, who are struggling with hunger.
