APGA Chieftain Hail Soludo, Commissioner’s Swift Intervention in Ozomagana Market Crisis

By Cyprian Ebele | Onitsha

An All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) chieftain in Onitsha South, Mr. Izu Okoye, has commended Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and the Commissioner for Commerce, Mr. Nomso Ebonwu, for what he described as a timely intervention that prevented a possible bloodbath at the troubled Ozomagana Building Materials Market in Onitsha.

The crisis, which has reportedly lingered for nearly one year, revolves around a leadership dispute and allegations surrounding a controversial lease agreement involving the market.

Speaking on the development, Okoye alleged that traders had become increasingly frustrated over what he described as the repeated arrests and detention of the market’s elected chairman, Mr. Obiora Okoro, and members of his executive by operatives from the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja.

“The intervention of Governor Soludo through the Commissioner for Commerce came at the right time. It restored hope among traders and prevented what could have escalated into a violent confrontation,” Okoye said.

According to him, the now-disbanded Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the Force Headquarters repeatedly invited and detained Okoro over allegations he described as “trumped-up charges.”

Okoye claimed that the arrests were intended to compel the chairman to sign a fresh 50-year lease agreement despite an earlier agreement that had already been executed between the traders and Modebe Enterprises Ltd.

“Obiora Okoro refused to rewrite and sign another lease agreement after an existing one had been duly signed and sealed. Because he stood his ground, he was allegedly subjected to repeated arrests and intimidation,” he alleged.

He further claimed that after the dissolution of the SIU, some members of the Modebe family allegedly continued to pursue the matter through the Legal Department of the Force Headquarters, leading to additional arrests of the market chairman before the state government’s intervention.

Okoye maintained that the commissioner’s directive halting ongoing activities at the market helped calm tensions.

“The Commissioner’s immediate action in stopping all work at the market demonstrated leadership and fairness. Without that intervention, there could have been a major clash involving traders, police personnel and those behind the disputed lease agreement,” he stated.

He also praised Ebonwu’s handling of the crisis, describing him as one of the most proactive commissioners appointed by Governor Soludo to oversee market affairs.

On allegations that Okoro was removed for failing to remit Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to the state, Okoye insisted that the claims had previously been disproved after payment receipts were presented to the appropriate authorities.

He further alleged that under Okoro’s leadership, traders paid an annual stallage fee of ₦12,500 each, with about ₦7.5 million remitted to the state government. He contrasted this with the caretaker committee that succeeded him, alleging that despite generating significantly higher revenue, it remitted only about ₦900,000 to the government.

Okoye also claimed that similar disputes linked to lease agreements are affecting other markets in Onitsha, including Provision Market, Ochanja, Iweka Electronics Market and Ezemewke Market.

“I appeal to Governor Soludo to extend the same intervention to other affected market chairmen facing similar challenges. A lasting solution is needed to restore confidence and peace across our markets,” he pleaded.

The allegations made by the APGA chieftain have not been independently verified, and no official response had been received from the individuals and institutions mentioned at the time of filing this report.