CITIZENS COMPASS —The Anambra State Government has sealed the popular Uwa Mgbede Market, along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway in Onitsha. 

The State government attributed the closure to poor “environmental and unapproved practices”.

The personnel of Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra Brigade, led by its Managing Director, Celestine Anere, sealed the facility on Friday, February 16, 2024. 

Anere said the market was sealed off for various environmental contraventions such as unapproved location, filthy environment, blocked and littered drainages, illegal and indiscriminate parking and abandonment of trucks on the major road, among others.

He said, “The market was sealed off for various environmental contraventions such as unapproved location, filthy environment, blocked and littered drainages, illegal and indiscriminate parking and abandonment of trucks on the major road, among others.

“Traders should use the various approved markets by the state government which are secured and off the roads for their safety and betterment.

This is to warn traders constituting self-markets without approval from the state government. Anyone caught will have his or herself to be blamed.”

Meanwhile, the development generated lots of reactions as the traders lamented that no notice was given before the officials embarked on the action.

A trader, Joseph Ukonne, said, “This market has existed for over 20 years. The traders don’t constitute any environmental hazard because we clear the drainage system every week and sweep the environment at the end of each business activity every day.”

The popular market is a terminal bubbling with buyers and sellers of various food items such as rice, beans, pepper, tomatoes, onions, yams, fish, and meat, among others.

The closure took place a few weeks after the popular Fruit Market along the expressway was also sealed and traders forcefully relocated to the Ogbaru fruit market.