Traders At Fruit And Vegetable Market, Onitsha Appeal For Full Relocation Of Perishable Food Sellers

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Traders at the Fruit and Vegetable Market, Onitsha, have appealed to the Anambra State Government to fulfil its promise of relocating all sellers of perishable food items in Onitsha and its environs to the new market site.

The traders made the appeal when our team visited the market to assess business activities in the area.

During the visit, the team observed a large number of traders operating in the market, with several shops open for business.

There was also noticeable vehicular activity, as goods were being loaded and offloaded while customers moved around making purchases.

Food items sighted in abundance at the market included tomatoes, onions, pumpkins, okra, garden eggs, pepper, beans, and other agricultural produce.

Speaking on the state of the market, the Chairman of the Fruit and Vegetable Market, Onitsha, Deacon Charles Egeonu, alongside members of the executive drawn from the Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba communities, Messrs Bala Chindu, Falade Adesoji, and Emeka Ikokwu, said business activities were gradually improving at the new location.

However, they expressed dissatisfaction that more than one year after the government’s relocation directive, some traders were still being allowed to operate from the old market site.

According to them, the new market is more spacious, organised, and conducive to business.

They noted that, unlike the former location, where traders and customers were frequently knocked down by vehicles, no such incidents have been recorded since relocating to the new site.

The Chairman disclosed that the market was initially waterlogged when traders moved in, but members contributed funds to sand-fill and improve the environment, making it more suitable for business operations.

Also speaking, some traders, including Mr Justin Ikpeawunjo, Mrs Ebere Ede, Mr Ahmed Situ, and Alhaji Ibrahim Medebino, said they were more comfortable at the new market and pointed out that many traders who had earlier relocated to Oko Market in Asaba were beginning to return due to the improved business environment.

The traders maintained that the complete relocation of all perishable food sellers, including cucumber and corn sellers, to the new site would significantly boost patronage and economic activities in the market.