By Our Correspondent

As Traders of Onitsha Main market lament over the lost of their shops by the state governor,Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ONICCIMA) has laid its weight behind Governor Chukwuma Soludo on the demolition of the market stating that the exercise was a bold and visionary step aimed at restoring the lost glory of Onitsha as the host of the largest market in West Africa.

In a statement signed by its President, Chinedu Nwonu, the chamber expressed full support for the modernization project, noting that the market, widely regarded as the largest in West Africa, had long suffered from congestion, unauthorized encroachments and infrastructural decay.

He president recalled that the remodeling exercise which began late February, 2026, is aimed at providing modern facilities such as adequate vehicular parking space, proper fire-fighting equipment, CCTV surveillance cameras, improved ventilation and enhanced security posts to create a safer and more convenient shopping environment.

The chamber however expressed very deep concern over the hardship likely to be faced by traders and shop owners whose structures, including individual shops and plazas, that were affected by the demolition exercise.

It lamented that many investors who purchased spaces in good faiffered significant financial losses, emotional distress and disruption to their livelihoods.

The chamber particularly criticized past administrations for allegedly permitting the fragmentation and sale of public spaces said to be originally designated for parks, roads and open areas, thereby compounding the present crisis.

While reiterating its support for the government’s objective, ONICCIMA urged the Anambra State Government to institute a transparent compensation framework for genuinely affected traders, provide alternative trading spaces during the remodeling phase, and engage stakeholders in inclusive planning.

It also called for free shop allocations in other markets within the zone or provide structured payment plans with a two-year moratorium to ease traders’ burdens, alongside legislation to criminalize future encroachments on public market spaces.

ONICCIMA further advocated full autonomy for markets to elect their leaders, in order to end what it described as the practice of appointing caretaker committees and political affiliates.

It pledged its readiness to collaborate with the government and stakeholders to ensure a humane and equitable transformation process that would ultimately boost revenue and secure a prosperous future for Onitsha and Anambra State.

By George Mgbeleke

The Senate on Thursday summoned immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer ( GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited ( NNPCL) , Mele Kyari , the Chief Financial Officer , Umar Ajia Isa and Dr Bala Wunti to refund unaccounted N210trillion expended by the company between 2017 and 2023.

The Red Chamber threatened to issue warrant of arrest against the summoned past management team of NNPCL if they fail to appear before it on a date to be forwarded to them soon , wondering among others , why a whopping sum of N5billion was spent by the National Oil Company on change of Name from NNPC to NNPCL .

These resolutions of Senate on summoning of the immediate past top management team of the NNPCL was taken at its meeting Public Accounts held on Thursday.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Aliyu Wadada Ahmed ( Nasarawa West), who read out the resolutions while briefing Senate Correspondents explained that the summon on the past management team of NNPCL , should be led by the incumbent GCEO, Engineer Bayo Ojulari .

Announcing the resolutions one after the other , Senator Wadada said : ” NNPCL should refund the sum of N210 trillion, being the combined sum of N103 trillion and N107 trillion, which were not properly accounted for as contained in the audit reports .NNPCL ,should and must account for the two figures.

“The second resolution of the committee is that the NNPCL should reform to treasury all production costs charged against crude oil revenue for the period under review since the NNPC and its subsidiaries, NAPIMS and co. do not directly produce crude oil.

“Three, that Immediate past management of NNPCL and NAPIMS, i.e, Mele Kyari as the then GCEO, Umar Ajia Isa as the then CFO and Bala Wunti as the then GGM, NAPIMS, should and must appear before the committee and to be led by the present management with the entire body of the external auditors that served within the period under review.

” Four, that the Auditor General for the Federation should carry out forensic audit review of the audited financial statements of NNPCL for the period under review in line with section 85 of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended)”.

He added that the committee as contained in the audit report, wondered how NNPC spent a whopping sum of N5billion on change of name from NNPC to NNPCL .

” This to us in the committee , is unacceptable and satisfactory explanations must be given “, he said .

According to him , the committee came up with the resolutions due to inability of NNPCL to give satisfactory answers to the 19 questions posed to it from queries raised in the audit report .

” NNPCL, as a result of the questions that we asked, responded that the N103 trillion represented cumulative amounts expended by NNPCL Joint Venture Partners from JV Cash Calls 2017. For that, this response is unacceptable and the figure of N103 trillion is still lingering and hanging on NNPC.

“The Subsidy receivables according to the audited financial statement of NNPCL stood at N107 trillion. As at December 2023 NNPCL recorded N107 trillion as sundry receivables which it claims part of it was owed by some different banks and other entities . When put together, NNPCL need to properly account for N210trillion ” he explained .

The committee however affirmed its legislative support to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Federal government , who according to it , is doing everything possible in ensuring transparency , probity and accountability in the management of public fund.

By Our Correspondent

Despite court orders to susoend demolition of Onitsha Main Market pending the determination of a substantive suit, Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State in the early hours of Sunday, precisely 1am Sunday commenced the demolition of Onitsha Main market reating panic and wailing among traders and Residents the market

Daily Echoes Media gathered that as at 12.30 am security operatives that included, military, Nigeria Civil Defence. Corps and Agunechember security outfit barricaded the roads leading to the market prior to the demolition.

As at 12pm Sunday, shops at Johnson street and some parts of the Gwomgworo (major structure, of the market have been pulled down and extended to lines within the market.

Narrating his ordeal in the hands of security operatives, a trader at the market, Okeke Akasim said, “I rushed to evacuate my wares at 2am when I heard that they have started demolishing Main market and on getting close, a security man said I must ‘settle’ him before passing and I gave him #500.

“When I got close to my shop it was already demolished with the wares there and I collapsed and on regaining consciousnes managed to leave without a pin from my shop, ” he stated.

Another trader who pleaded anonymity stated that, ” in my presence the iron structure of my shop was sold by a vigilante operative despite my plea to him. He asked me why I did not comply with the order that we should remove our wares within 14 days.”

Scavengers are reported to have made brisk business as shops with iron features are ready made wares for the scanvegers at give away prices.

It is obvious that traders at the Main market who will come to the market on Monday will not be allowed to enter the market as it had been barricaded by security operatives who took over the market since weekend till the time of filing this story.