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No going back on main market closure, don’t push me to demolish it – Soludo warns traders
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The governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has said there is no going back on the order to shut down the Main Market in Onitsha, a decision that has generated tension in the state since it was made on Monday, following traders’ refusal to resume business on a sit-at home day.
Soludo in a press briefing on Wednesday described the continual stay at home by traders in the market as economic sabotage and would not be allowed to continue.
He insisted that even if it meant revoking the ownership of shops of those who failed to comply or even taking total possession of the market and demolishing it, he would do it to ensure that things are gotten aright.
He said: “I want to say that the Monday sit at home is deliberate economic sabotage and would not be allowed to continue. Throughout the yuletide the market was open from Monday down to Saturday and in most cases opened on Sundays too.
“For people who say the Monday decision is because of insecurity, why were there no incidences when traders opened all through the week? Now that normal businesses have commenced, they have started their Monday sabotage. They go for meetings on Monday, go to the stadium to exercise and they do not fear insecurity.
“Why is their target Nnewi and Onitsha? The majority of those doing it are not from Anambra. As I drove to Onitsha on Monday, all markets were open. In most cases there was street trading and it was even difficult for us to meander our way. Other markets were open and I drove through Ochanja, but the major target is Onitsha Main Market. When we got there, it was not open. We think this is deliberate and it has to end.”
The governor traced the history of the sit at home order on Mondays to the 2021 protest over the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), but said that he visited Kanu in prison and he was unhappy about the decision and called for an end to the order.
“I visited Kanu and he was unhappy about it. I confronted him with the question (sit at home order) and he told me it was wrong. We later met with the stakeholders, constituted the Justice Peace Committee which was headed by Prof. Chidi Odinkalu and they have submitted their report and we have been implementing it.
“We also discovered that the people outside are the ones fueling it and we have held town hall meetings to tell them they are killing the homeland. You cannot distort the growth of people and education, the same people you said you are fighting for.
“We announced amnesty programme and 15,400 youths came out and we have rehabilitated them. We are working to give young people a life and other people are there working to give them pain.
“The rest of the world cannot adjust to our own calendar, we cannot operate a four-day economy and hope to compete with people operating six days of the week. So we must stop. This is not because of fear of insecurity because we have over 150 security personnel working in the main market only.”
Speaking on what the government is losing in terms of revenue, Soludo said the cost is much, but not about government revenue, but about the economy of the poor people and the overall stability of the state.
“The cost is much and not as a result of loss in taxes because Onitsha generates pittance. I’m talking about the larger economy, which is more on the traders themselves. Monday is the most important day of the week and if we continue, our economy will continue to come down. We can’t train our children in a school system that runs four days a week.
“I’m concerned because you gave me the mandate to be your Chief Servant. If not, what do I lose? I can as well shutdown and use my Mondays to sleep too.”
Soludo insisted that some politicians were behind the the efforts to sabotage the state in the hope that they will score some political points with it.
“Some politicians are involved and they think it’s politics. It is not about politics, it is about security, the interest and future of our state. It is about our prosperity, it is about our security, it is about the poor people who must go out before they can feed.
“For now, we will not name the politicians who are sponsoring them. At least for now, but very soon we will name them. They are doing this because they think they can score political points by sponsoring this.
“This economic sabotage must not continue. In 2022 and 2023 we were busy strategizing on how we would deal with the insecurity in our land. In 2024 and 2025, we used it to launch onslaught on criminals, and today I can say that Anambra is the safest state. Even if our enemies do not agree, they will count us among the safest states in Nigeria. This 2026 is for fighting sit at home. It is either they open their shops or we revoke their ownership.
“If it gets to this point, we will ask them to come and show us their documents of ownership of the shops, and I will personally scrutinize it myself. Most of those documents, we know how they came about.
“For those shouting “show me the law where you can close our shops”, I want to say that they should be ready when I show it to them. I will also show them the law that empowers me to revoke that market and use it for whatever is better for the state. I can revoke that market, pay compensation to people who have private structures there and use it for even an annex of Agunechemba Security if I like.
“I hope that push will not come to shove, but in the next two weeks, we will start recertification. A lot of people want shops in that market, so if you are not ready to open shops, go elsewhere. We will revoke your shops and give it to people who are willing to open,” a defiant Soludo stated.
…Abbas pledge collaboration with opposition leaders to advance 10th Assembly’s legislative agenda
By Gloria Ikibah
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has formally announced the completion of the minority leadership structure in the 10th House following the nomination and endorsement of three lawmakers to fill vacant principal officer positions.
Speaking during plenary, Abbas informed members that the minority caucus had unanimously agreed on the appointments through a consensus arrangement.
According to the Speaker, the nomination was conveyed to the House in line with the decision of minority members of the 10th Assembly.
He said: “The election of the House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria, the minority members of the 10th Assembly hereby unanimously nominate the following members by consensus to fill the vacant positions of the minority in the parliament.”
Announcing the appointments, Abbas stated: “Number one, Minority Leader, Rt. Honourable Frederick Abedi PhD. Number two is the position of Minority Whip, and the person they have endorsed is no other than Honourable Monsur Soro.
He added: “The last but not the least is my brother from the northwest, in person of Rt. Honourable Abdusamadu Dasuki, the position of Deputy Minority Leader.”
Following the announcement, the Speaker congratulated the newly appointed principal officers and expressed confidence in their ability to contribute meaningfully to the work of the House.
He also assured the new opposition leaders of the support of the House leadership as they assume their responsibilities.
“So honourable colleagues, today the body of principal officers is complete, and I want to seize this opportunity on behalf of the whole entire house to congratulate the three people and to wish them all the best in their new positions.
“And let them be assured that the leadership of the house will work with them assiduously in ensuring that we achieve our legislative agenda objectives of this very important 10th Assembly,” Abbas said.
The Speaker wished members well and prayed for continued success in the work of the legislature.
“May God bless you all”, he concluded.
Finally the first set of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos following renewed xenophobic attacks in the country.
The Air Peace flight carrying the returnees arrived at the airport around 10:25 am on Thursday.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, among others, was on hand to welcome the 258 evacuees who were escorted by officials of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa, led by the Acting High Commissioner, Temitope Ajayi.
Addressing the returnees, Enikanolaiye said Nigeria will not stand idly by while its citizens are subjected to attacks and harassment wherever they may be in the world; hence, the swift and necessary action to bring them home.
In a statement following their arrival, the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, quoted Enikanolaiye as commending the excellent coordination of the process by the High Commission of Nigeria in Pretoria.
He urged Nigerians in South Africa to remain law-abiding and vigilant and to report any threats to the Nigerian Mission. The minister said that the Federal Government remains fully engaged with the South African authorities at the highest levels to ensure the protection of Nigerian nationals and to address the root causes of these incidents.
The minister conveyed the heartfelt greetings and assurances of President Bola Tinubu to the returning nationals.
“No Nigerian should live in fear simply because of their nationality. The evacuation does not signal defeat; it underscores the proactive and citizen-centred foreign policy of the Tinubu administration,” the statement read in part. “More flights carrying returnees are expected to arrive in the country in the coming days as the evacuation exercise continues.”
The returning nationals are undergoing the process of documentation, profiling, and necessary medical checks and will be provided with temporary accommodation before being reunited with their families, the ministry said.
Anti-foreigner violence has convulsed South Africa for weeks as gangs armed with sticks, whips, and shields have marched through parts of the “rainbow nation”, demanding that people with no residency papers leave by June 30.
Foreign nationals have reported being intimidated and beaten by mobs going door to door, families have been forced from their homes, and many have left in the face of the threats.
Ghana, Mozambique, and Malawi have already repatriated hundreds of their citizens in recent weeks.
South Africa is Africa’s largest economy and hosts more than three million foreigners, just over five per cent of its population, according to the country’s statistics agency.
…Enikanolaiye says rescue mission reflects Tinubu’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad
By Gloria Ikibah
The first batch of 258 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks has arrived safely in the country, with the Federal Government describing the operation as a clear demonstration of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the welfare and protection of Nigerians wherever they reside.
The returnees landed at the International Wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on Thursday morning aboard a special Air Peace flight arranged and fully funded by the Federal Government.
The evacuees, who were accompanied by officials of the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria led by Acting High Commissioner, Ambassador Temitope Alexander Ajayi, were received on behalf of the Federal Government by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye.
Addressing the returnees, Enikanolaiye conveyed President Tinubu’s message of solidarity and reassurance, stressing that the safety and dignity of Nigerians abroad remain a top priority for the administration.
He said: “The Federal Government of Nigeria will not stand idly by while our citizens are subjected to attacks and harassment, wherever they may be in the world, hence the swift and necessary action to bring our people home.”
The minister noted that the evacuation exercise was coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in partnership with the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa and several government agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the Ministry of Aviation, Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Immigration Service and security agencies.
According to the ministry, the operation underscores the government’s determination to protect Nigerians from violence, discrimination and intimidation abroad.
The statement stressed that the evacuation should not be interpreted as a retreat but rather as a proactive intervention aimed at safeguarding citizens caught in a difficult situation.
“No Nigerian should live in fear simply because of their nationality. The evacuation does not signal defeat; it underscores the proactive and citizen-centred foreign policy of the Tinubu administration,” he added.
Enikanolaiye also commended the Nigerian Mission in Pretoria for its role in ensuring the successful evacuation of the affected citizens.
The minister disclosed that Nigeria remains in active diplomatic engagement with South African authorities to address the situation and ensure the safety of Nigerians still residing in the country.
“I commend the excellent coordination of the process by the High Commission of Nigeria in Pretoria and urge all Nigerians in South Africa to remain law-abiding, vigilant, and to report any threats to the Nigerian Mission.
“The Federal Government remains fully engaged with the South African authorities at the highest levels to ensure the protection of Nigerian nationals and to address the root causes of these unfortunate incidents”, he stated.
The returnees are currently undergoing documentation, profiling and medical screening, after which they will receive temporary accommodation and other forms of assistance before being reunited with their families.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said additional evacuation flights are expected in the coming days as efforts continue to bring home Nigerians affected by the attacks.
The ministry also appealed for calm while diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the crisis are intensified.
The latest evacuation follows renewed concerns over xenophobic violence in South Africa, where foreign nationals, including Nigerians, have periodically faced attacks, harassment and threats in recent years.
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