Onitsha — The usually bustling Onitsha Main Market came alive again on Monday, but not without tension, hesitation, and a dramatic show of leadership.
By 10:00 a.m., traders cautiously gathered around the market gates, still haunted by fear of the weekly sit-at-home order. Despite Governor Charles Soludo’s directive for shops to reopen, many traders lingered outside, reluctant to enter—even with security agents patrolling the area.
Everything changed when the Chairman of the market, Mr. Chijioke Okpalaugo, arrived with members of his executive and a convoy of security personnel. His presence was the turning point.
“We were afraid to enter our shops,” said one trader. “But when we saw the Chairman walking in with security men, we felt safe. That gave us courage.”
Soon, word spread that registers were being signed to mark attendance. Traders began calling friends and neighbors, urging them to come quickly. Within minutes, sections of the market—Lagos Line, Ado Line, Mandela Line, White House Line—buzzed with activity as shutters lifted and wares were displayed.
Relief Mixed with Anxiety
While about 55% of traders resumed business immediately, many admitted their joy was tempered by uncertainty.
“We are happy to be back,” one trader said. “But what happens next Monday if the same number of security men are not here? That is our fear.”
Customers, however, remained hesitant. Roads leading to the market—Onitsha-Owerri Road, Upper Iweka, Awka Road, Nkpor Road—were deserted. Transport operators withdrew, leaving traders stranded. Those who managed to get buses or tricycles paid double the usual fare.
“The problem is not opening shops,” another trader explained. “It is how to encourage customers to come. Without transport, people cannot reach us.”
Larger Tensions
The reopening comes against the backdrop of Governor Soludo’s stern warning last week, when he ordered the market closed for one week after traders failed to comply with his directive to disregard the sit-at-home. He cautioned that closures could be extended if traders continued to defy orders.
Meanwhile, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) celebrated what it called “total compliance” with its sit-at-home directive, describing the traders’ actions as a “historic show of unity and love” for its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
A Market in Transition
As heavy security patrols reassured traders inside, the looming demolition of about 10,000 shops by the state government added another layer of anxiety. For many, Monday’s reopening was less a return to normalcy and more a fragile experiment in resilience.
For now, Onitsha Main Market stands at a crossroads—caught between government directives, political tensions, and the everyday struggle of traders who simply want to earn a living.
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