Anambra Market Crisis: Traders Demand Commissioner’s Sack

By, Phil Okose, Onitsha

Traders in Onitsha, Anambra State, under the aegis of the Onitsha South Traders Forum, have called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to remove the Commissioner for Commerce, Nomso C. Ebonwu, over alleged incompetence in managing persistent disputes and restoring peace in markets across the state.

The traders, who made the call on Friday through their spokesperson, Izu Okoye, a former two-term chairman of Onitsha International Electronics Market and chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Onitsha South Local Government Area, alleged that the commissioner’s appointment had failed to improve the situation in the markets.

They specifically cited the lingering dispute involving the Modebe family, landlords of Ozomagala Building Materials Market, Onitsha, and traders operating in the market, describing the situation as evidence of the commissioner’s alleged failure to resolve market-related conflicts.

According to the forum, the market’s chairman, Obiora Okoro, and members of his executive have continued to face police arrests, allegedly involving officers from Abuja, over the unresolved dispute.

The traders argued that the Ministry of Commerce required an experienced administrator with a strong understanding of market operations and conflict resolution, insisting that the handling of market disputes demanded tact, impartiality and effective engagement with stakeholders.

“If the commissioner has handled, say, 20 cases since he assumed office, he has failed to settle all 20. Markets are very sensitive places where experienced people in trade and commerce should be appointed to manage affairs,” the forum alleged.

The group further accused Ebonwu of allegedly favouring wealthy stakeholders at the expense of ordinary traders in resolving market disputes, citing developments at Ozomagala Building Materials Market, Ogbogwu Drug Market and Onitsha Main Market.

It also expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of disputes in Ochanja and Iweka markets, alleging that the commissioner had failed to establish cordial working relationships with market leaders, chairmen and relevant officials in the ministry’s legal department.

The forum described the commissioner as lacking the experience and administrative capacity required to manage the complex interests and pressures associated with market leadership, arguing that his continued stay in office could further aggravate existing tensions.

“We have assessed his performance and found him unfit to pilot the affairs of traders. He has not demonstrated the capacity required to manage the pressure that comes with market administration,” the group said.

The traders consequently appealed to Governor Soludo to appoint a more experienced and competent person to head the ministry, insisting that several qualified individuals were available to manage the state’s commercial sector.

They also expressed concern over the forthcoming market leadership elections, which they described as traditionally sensitive and prone to disputes, warning that the process could become difficult to manage if adequate preparations were not made.

The forum urged the governor to ensure that whoever supervises the elections commands the confidence of market stakeholders and possesses the administrative capacity to prevent violence and maintain order.

However, when contacted, Ebonwu declined to comment directly on the allegations and referred journalists to the ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Ebelechukwu Odili, for an official response.

Odili dismissed the allegations as false, frivolous and unfounded, maintaining that the commissioner could not comment on the Ozomagala Building Materials Market dispute because the matter was already before a court of competent jurisdiction.

She explained that the dispute involving the Modebe family and the traders predated Ebonwu’s appointment as Commissioner for Commerce, stressing that the commissioner was not in a position to interfere in a matter undergoing judicial proceedings.

“My commissioner will have nothing to say about a matter that is still pending in court. The Modebe case was already in court before he assumed office as Commissioner for Commerce. Anybody alleging that he is biased or incompetent is not telling the truth,” Odili said.

The PRO further explained that the ministry had established designated redress desks in markets to receive complaints and facilitate the resolution of disputes among traders and other stakeholders.

According to her, cases are first channelled through the relevant desk officers, while matters that cannot be resolved at that level are subsequently referred to the commissioner for further attention.

She advised aggrieved traders to follow the established administrative procedure by contacting the appropriate redress desks rather than expecting the commissioner to intervene directly in every dispute.

“The markets have desk officers where complaints are channelled for settlement. If a matter cannot be resolved at that level, it is transferred to the commissioner. He cannot jump protocol,” she added.

The controversy has once again drawn attention to the challenges of market administration in Anambra State, with traders demanding stronger intervention from the government while the ministry maintains that disputes already before the courts must be allowed to follow due process.