Photos of the demolition
Emotions ran high on Sunday 1st of march 2026 at the Onitsha Main Market as tearful traders gathered in protest, demanding compensation following the ongoing demolition exercise that they say has shattered their source of livelihood.
Many affected shop owners described the situation as devastating, lamenting that years of hard work and investment were destroyed within hours. Some traders claimed they secured their shops legally and obtained the necessary approvals before construction.
In a Facebook post, Don Ebubeogu expressed deep concern over the development, writing:
“The bulldozers have arrived, demolishing hopes and aspirations, and crushing dreams and livelihoods.
Considering the scale of the investments being destroyed by the relentless bulldozers, I have several questions:
What happened to the individuals who dezoned these areas and sold them to traders?
Why is no one discussing compensation, given that the structures were constructed under government building plan approvals?
The sight of bulldozers tearing down investments can evoke a sense of helplessness and anger, especially when people's lives and dreams are intertwined with those structures.
If compensation is not provided for these investments, despite government approvals, it raises further questions about the fair treatment of citizens and the value placed on their contributions and investments.
The government should compensate for these properties and identify the individuals responsible for the initial sales.
It is important for all parties to learn from this unfortunate situation.”
As of the time of filing this report, the state government has maintained that the demolition is part of a broader restructuring and urban renewal effort aimed at reorganizing the market and improving infrastructure.
The situation remains tense as traders continue to call for fair compensation. Throwback Times Nigeria learned.
