Just In: Tears as Anambra Govt Demolishes Onitsha Main Market, Photos Emerge
- The Anambra State government, on Sunday, March 1, 2026, finally demolished the popular Onitsha Main Market
- Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo maintained that the demolition was necessary for sections of the market that were constructed outside the original master plan
- Despite traders presenting reasons against the demolition, Governor Soludo remained firm in his decision
Legit.ng Anambra correspondent Solomon Mokwugo has over 10 years of experience covering public affairs and governance in Nigeria and Africa.
Onitsha, Anambra State - The Anambra State government has demolished the popular Onitsha Main Market, in line with Governor Charles Soludo’s proposal.
Legit.ng reports that the exercise was carried out on Sunday, March 1, led by Tony Nworah, the mayor of Onitsha North Local Government Area (LGA).
Source: Facebook
Anambra demolishes Onitsha Main Market
Security operatives, including Operation Clean And Healthy Anambra (OCHA) Brigade, Agunechemba, the Special Anti-Touting Squad for Anambra State (SASA), and others, joined during the demolition.
Governor Soludo had earlier visited the market in early February, describing it as an eyesore. He noted that many traders had constructed shops, plazas, parking spaces, and other structures on drainages and areas not included in the original master plan. Soludo emphasised that the government would demolish all unauthorised structures and remodel the market to restore it to its intended design and glory.
Traders and stakeholders, however, resisted the plan. They urged the government to build a new market elsewhere, warning that demolishing the existing structures would affect livelihoods, cause hardship, and create insecurity. Despite these pleas, the governor remained firm in his decision. On Sunday morning, March 1, 2026, the Anambra government, through the Onitsha North LGA, mobilised bulldozers and began the demolition.
Many traders rushed to the market to salvage their goods, but it was too late.
Source: Original
Speaking to Legit.ng at the scene, traders expressed regret, noting that the government demolished the market without providing alternatives for them.
A market stakeholder, speaking anonymously to Legit.ng, expressed shock that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) government went ahead with the demolition despite a court injunction restraining it.
He said:
"Soludo proposed the demolition, but traders begged him not to proceed.
"When he insisted, traders obtained a court injunction from Justice J. I. Nweze of the Onitsha High Court, directing all parties to maintain the status quo pending a hearing fixed for March 16.
"We thought the court order would stop the exercise, only to wake up and see the demolition in progress."
'Anambra govt not responsible traders’ losses'
Meanwhile, Monday Nwokoye, the director of SASA, told Legit.ng that traders were given ample time to remove their goods but failed to do so.
Nwokoye added that the government would not be responsible for any loss of goods during the demolition.
Read more Anambra state news:
- JAMB 2025: Anambra, Imo, other states with top UTME exam malpractices
- Anambra governorship: Hausa community snubs Soludo, endorses another candidate
- Protest rocks Anambra as 1,000 youths fume, "this is unacceptable"
Native doctors endorse Soludo
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that thousands of native doctors and traditional religion practitioners endorsed Soludo for a second term.
Daniel Ejie, the state coordinator of Native Doctors and Spiritual Material Sellers, commended Soludo for his courage, vision and inclusive leadership style.
The group sensitised members to the provisions of the newly passed Anambra State Homeland Security Law.
Source: Legit.ng
Ridwan Adeola Yusuf (Current Affairs Editor) Ridwan Adeola Yusuf is a content creator with more than nine years of experience, He is also a Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng. He holds a Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication from the Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State (2014). Ridwan previously worked at Africa Check, contributing to fact-checking research works within the organisation. He is an active member of the Academic Excellence Initiative (AEI). In March 2024, Ridwan completed the full Google News Initiative Lab workshop and his effort was recognised with a Certificate of Completion. Email: ridwan.adeola@corp.legit.ng.
Mokwugo Solomon (Anambra State Correspondent) Anambra's regional correspondent Mokwugwo Solomon is an Editor, Investigative Journalist, and Media Consultant, with a wealth of experience spanning 17 years. He bagged his B/Ed degree in English Education from University of Abuja, now Yakubu Gowon University. After 17 years in various areas of journalism, Mokwugwo Solomon is now the Correspondent of Legit.ng in Anambra State, Nigeria, where he applies his expertise to provide incisive coverage of events. Contact him at: mokwugwosolomon@gmail.com OR: +2348063831036.
