Anambra State Government has fixed January 1, 2026 as the final deadline for the relocation of all building materials traders operating along Port Harcourt Road, Uga Street and Atani Road in Onitsha to the Allied Building Materials International Market, Nteje (Kilometre 8, Onitsha–Enugu Expressway).
The directive was reaffirmed during an official visit to the KM 8 market by the Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Trade and Markets, Chief Evarist Uba, who described the timeline as final and non-negotiable.
Chief Uba said the relocation affects several unions, including iron dealers, PVC pipe dealers, plastic tank dealers and other building materials associations currently operating outside approved market locations. He warned that failure to comply would attract enforcement actions, as the government would no longer tolerate street trading, traffic obstruction and market disorder in Onitsha.
According to him, the exercise aligns with Governor Soludo’s urban renewal agenda to restore order, safety and efficiency in markets across the state, particularly in Onitsha, the South-East’s commercial hub.
Chief Uba assured traders that adequate facilities have been provided at the KM 8 market, which offers improved space, accessibility and room for expansion.
Responding, the Chairman of the Allied Building Materials International Market, Nteje, Mr. Everistus Ejezie, thanked the state government and pledged full cooperation, promising to sensitize traders and union leaders to ensure smooth compliance.
The state government urged all affected traders to take advantage of the grace period and relocate voluntarily in the interest of orderly commerce and sustainable development.
By Ebele Iyke-Odili