Despite Subsisting Restraining Order, Soludo Demolishes Onitsha Main Market Structures
The Anambra State Government has commenced demolition of structures at the Onitsha Main Market, despite a subsisting court order restraining the action.
The exercise, which began on Sunday, was carried out under the supervision of the Onitsha North Local Government Council as part of what authorities described as a move to remove illegal structures and restore the market’s original master plan.
Governor Charles Soludo had earlier directed the clearance of makeshift stalls and extensions allegedly erected in violation of approved layouts, citing concerns over congestion, sanitation, and safety in one of West Africa’s largest trading hubs.
However, the demolition has sparked controversy following a recent ruling by the Anambra State High Court, which reportedly ordered parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing of a suit filed by affected traders.
The case is scheduled for hearing later this month. Traders who approached the court argued that the planned demolition would cause severe economic hardship and alleged that due process was not fully observed.
The court subsequently issued an interim order restraining the state government and its agents from proceeding with the demolition until the matter is determined.
Despite this, reports from the market on Sunday indicated that demolition equipment moved in early in the day, pulling down selected structures marked as illegal.
Some traders were seen evacuating goods, while others protested what they described as disregard for judicial authority.
Reacting to the controversy, state officials maintained that adequate notices had been issued weeks earlier, giving traders time to remove affected structures.
They insisted the operation targeted only unauthorized extensions and did not amount to a total demolition of the market.
Legal analysts say the development could trigger further litigation if it is established that the demolition violated a subsisting court injunction.
Civil society groups have also called for restraint and dialogue to prevent escalation.
The Onitsha Main Market, a major commercial nerve centre in southeastern Nigeria, accommodates thousands of traders and generates significant revenue for the state.
The unfolding legal and political dispute is expected to dominate public discourse in the coming days as stakeholders await the court’s next sitting.
