Traders Blame Some Wealthy Individuals For Ochanja Market Building Collapse
By Afam Aminu Chimezie, Onitsha
As residents of Onitsha and indeed Anambra State mourn the sudden death of about fifteen people trapped under the debris of three-blocks of two storey building in Ochanja Central Market, Onitsha, residents have attributed the incident to greed of a few wealthy individuals in the State.
At about 7:30 on on Monday residents were hit by a shocking news of the collapse of three gigantic blocks of an ongoing construction of shops estimated to accommodate about two hundred shops at the former “Oduigbo” section of the market known for sale of perishable items like tomatoes, vegetables and other condiments.
Last year traders and owners of shops at the section of the market were forcefully denied their shops which they had owned for decades. They were promised new shops as soon as the new market shops were completed.
The traders mainly widows had wept openly, saying they could not trust government and their promises since wealthy and highly placed individuals seemed to have highjacked the entire process as shops had already been allocated to rich traders, reneging on government earlier promise to consider the original allottees .
However, on Monday, 26th night of February 2024, three gigantic buildings still undergoing construction collapsed with about a score trapped under the debris.
The Chairman, Ochanja Central Market, Onitsha, Chief Bonaventure Muo, who was seen at the site of the incident expressed regret, adding that he lacked words to express his sadness.
Sir. Clifford Ilodiuba, a major stakeholder in the market, urged Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to look into market leadership and how leaders are appointed, stressing that many buildings which were earlier marked for demolition in the market by Physical Planning Board since two years ago are still standing.
He said that the Governor has good intentions but lamented that some market leaders were sabotaging the efforts of the Governor.
It was, however, gathered that five bodies were retrieved from the debris of the collapsed structures Monday night, while seven injured survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals.
On Tuesday afternoon ten dead bodies were retrieved by the rescue team as more rescue equipment arrived the scene.
Gov. Soludo who arrived the scene at about 11:45 am expressed deep regret over the unfortunate incident. He disclosed that the collapsed structures were not duelly approved by the State Government through the Physical Planning Board.
However, the claim did not go down well with sympathisers who had gathered at the scene. As aome sympathisers accused the Governor of having hand in the construction and allocation of shops through his aides, even when the structures were yet to be completed.
A former Vice Chairman, Ochanja Central Market, Chief Nwabueze Umeh, who identified himself as ” first son” of the market, accused the market Chairman, of conniving with some influencial people in government ) to rip-off the poor traders financially.
He said that market leadership should be about people who have huge stake and knowledge about the market.
He called on the Governor to probe the entire market leadership for positive result, but however, expressed sympathy to the deceased families, urging both the State Government and the market authorities to assist the bereaved families.
Member representing Onitsha South I in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Fred Ezenwa, who lacked words to express his sadness over the incident, called on the State Government to immediately swing into action with the aim of identifying the remote cause of the building Collapse
He called on the bereaved families to take heart and await government investigation.
