Traders protesting the temporary closure of the popular Onitsha Main Market on Monday blocked the ever-busy Niger Bridge, disrupting movement between Asaba in Delta State and Onitsha, as well as other parts of the South-East.
The protest followed the Anambra State Government’s directive that markets must reopen for business on Mondays or face a one-month total closure. The development has heightened tension in the commercial city, with traders insisting that the order was imposed without adequate security guarantees.
For several hours, vehicular and human movement across the Niger Bridge was brought to a standstill, leaving commuters stranded in a long gridlock. Some travellers reportedly turned back to Asaba over fears that the protest could escalate into violence.
The traders, who conducted themselves peacefully, chanted slogans such as “Soludo, show us the law,” “We must trade on Mondays,” and “Stop infringing on our rights,” while questioning what they described as selective enforcement of market closures in Onitsha.
According to the protesters, their decision to occupy the Niger Bridge was aimed at drawing the attention of the Federal Government to what they described as injustice against them. They also linked the difficulty of resuming Monday trading to the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, stating that the situation had made a return to normal business extremely challenging.
Speaking on behalf of the traders, Mr. Sunday Okoli said trading on Mondays would remain difficult as long as Kanu remains in detention. He noted that when the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) announced the cancellation of the weekly sit-at-home and publicly dissociated itself from those enforcing it, traders expected the state and local governments to provide adequate security in markets to enable a smooth return to business.
“Instead, the government is now forcing us to reopen markets without guaranteeing the safety of our lives and goods,” he said, adding that traders had previously been attacked by hoodlums when they attempted to open on Mondays without sufficient security presence.
The traders also criticised security agencies, accusing them of being used to prevent lawful trading rather than protecting traders when they were under threat. They insisted that they would only resume Monday trading if airtight security arrangements were put in place.
The protesters marched through several major roads in Onitsha, including New Market Road, Venn Road, Kirk Road and Niger Street, before converging at the Niger Bridge Head where they blocked the route.
Meanwhile, the Anambra State Government has extended the abolition of the Monday sit-at-home to 12 additional markets across the state. These include Ochanja Central Market, Bridgehead Market, Ogbaru Main Market, Building Materials Market Ogidi, Agba-Edo Auto Spare Parts Market Nnewi, several auto and motorcycle spare parts markets in Nnewi and Nkpor, as well as markets in Obosi.
In a related development, the Igbo Community Association, Abuja, has appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to reopen the Onitsha Main Market to prevent a further escalation of protests. The association warned that continued closure could lead to a breakdown of law and order, with possible loss of lives and property.
In a statement signed by its President General, Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, and Secretary General, Mazi Emmanuel Onah, the group stressed the need for dialogue and respect for citizens’ rights.
The association urged the governor to listen to the concerns of the traders and pursue a peaceful resolution, describing markets as a vital part of the economic and social life of the people. While commending Soludo for his efforts in infrastructure development and economic reforms in Anambra State, the group maintained that reopening the markets was necessary to ease hardship and restore calm.
“The people want their markets back. They belong to them,” the statement said, calling for harmonious engagement rather than the use of force to resolve the impasse.
Traders Protest Onitsha Main Market Closure, Block Niger Bridge as Pressure Mounts on Soludo
