Inside Soludo’s Bold Resurrection of Onitsha Main Market—and What Vice President Shettima Said.
A working visit with Soludo is not a casual tour. It’s a mobile think tank, or strategy session on wheels, where you solve challenges in real time. Many people were unaware of how the Onitsha Main Market tale, which included seven days of bold lockdown and a dramatic reopening, captured the nation’s attention. By Monday morning, thousands were already online, supporting the campaign against the infamous sit-at-home directive.
On the route to the market, my colleague Mazi Enimofor and I briefed Mr. Governor on the media engagement while sat in his official automobile. Our support base was massive. He explained why this conflict arose in West Africa’s largest market. “It is a symbol of the Igbo spirit,” stated the politician. “But saboteurs held that spirit hostage. Fixing this site demonstrates that order trumps terror.”
We weren’t just discussing a notion. The “soul” of the market exists: everyday trade, traders and customers, Anambra’s heartbeat. Saving it would demonstrate that no problem is too large to address in the Southeast.
Fear was gone from the market on February 2nd, 2026. The usual Monday calm was replaced by a busy, hopeful noise. The gates stood open with boldness.
Soludo did not merely come to address the audience. He became a customer. He went to the market, inquired about costs, and purchased several products. Every handshake represented a promise. Every naira spent represented faith. “Today, we reopen the main market after five years,” he informed the audience. “This market is breathing again, and that breath will push the Southeast forward.”
The shutdown was a terrible surgery. The reopening represents the healing. However, this surpasses the market. The commercial center is about to be revitalized by the market’s restoration. Without a working environment, a working market is impossible. The connotation is obvious. It has to do with the power of the state. It’s an economic endeavor. Above all, though, it is a victory of the mind. The monument of fear is being torn down.The marketplace is open. Reconstruction is in progress.
During the SEDC Vision 2050 Stakeholder Forum in Enugu, Nigeria’s Vice-President Kashim Shettima observed, “Soludo has a tendency to take a bull by the horns.” He took on the leadership role, defeated the criminal elements, and now Onitsha is open for business. The resurrection is happening. – Adichie Izuchukwu posted
Date: February 08, 2026
Ubochi Nkwo Ikuku
Published by Ugwu Okechukwu (Director, Obinwannem Media)
