Ogene Urges Soludo To Reopen Onitsha Main Market

The member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency, Anambra State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, has appealed to the Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to reconsider his decision and re-open the Onitsha Main Market.

The federal lawmaker in a statement he made available to newsmen in Awka yesterday expressed concern that the one-week closure ordered by the governor as a punishment for the traders’ continued refusal to stop closing down the market every Monday to observe sit-at-home earlier ordered by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) contrary to the state government directive would inadvertently cause further hardship and economic losses to thousands of traders, as well as have a detrimental impact on the state’s economy.

Ogene who is the leader of the Anambra State caucus in the House of Representatives rather advised Soludo to embrace dialogue with the leaders of the market with the aim to diplomatically resolve the situation.

Ogene suggested that the Anambra State Government should have undertaken comprehensive sensitization efforts, engaging market leaders and business stakeholders, to highlight the improved security situation in the state, citing the peaceful Christmas season as an example, arguing that the approach would have garnered support for the ban on sit-at-home exercises rather  the government’s sudden closure of the market.

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”, Ogene lamented.

He, therefore,  called on Governor Soludo to engage in comprehensive consultations with stakeholders to facilitate a deeper understanding of the government’s policy.

He also advocated for a more sensitive approach, culminating in a phased reopening of the market ahead of the initially stipulated one-week period, thereby mitigating potential losses, social unrest, and prevailing anxiety within the state.