The Anambra State Government has sealed the popular Uwa Mgbede Market, located along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway in Onitsha, over poor “environmental and unapproved practices.”
The officials of Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra Brigade, led by its Managing Director, Celestine Anere, shut the facility on Friday.
This development came a few weeks after the popular fruit market along the expressway was also sealed and traders forcibly relocated.
Anere disclosed that the market was sealed 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.”
The development generated reactions as the traders lamented that no notice was given before the officials embarked on the action.
One of them, Joseph Ukonne, denied the allegations of the government.
He 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.”
