Onitsha Market Shocked as NIWA Attempts to Execute Camando-Style Military Eviction

Mayor of Onitsha South LGA Hon Emeka Orji

On Wednesday, a potential bloodbath was narrowly avoided in Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State when the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), accompanied by Nigerian Navy personnel and some revenue collectors, forcefully sealed and evicted traders from their shops at Progress Markets 1 and 2 in Onitsha.

NIWA, alongside military personnel, stormed the two markets and after demanding for revenue from the traders which they refused,they forcefully starting closing over 3,000 shops and ordering traders to vacate, claiming ownership of the land.

Reports indicate that this aggressive action was orchestrated by NIWA using military force, escalating tensions with the traders.

For the past two years, Onitsha South Local Government has been in conflict with NIWA over land used for boat anchoring along Niger Street. The land in dispute was previously confirmed by Anambra State Governor Prof. Charles Soludo to be illegally encroached upon by NIWA.

The trouble began early Wednesday morning, shortly after traders opened their shops, when armed personnel invaded the markets, forcing traders out and shutting down their businesses.

Upon receiving the distress call, the Mayor of Onitsha South Local Government, Chief Emeka Orji, and Council Secretary Paul Onuachalla rushed to the scene.

They reopened the closed shops and arrested three individuals identified as illegal revenue collectors allegedly working for NIWA.

The suspects were handed over to ACP Chidi Nzotta, the Police Area Commander for Onitsha, for investigation.

At the police station, the detained revenue officials claimed NIWA has legal authority to collect stallage fees from markets located within 100 meters of the River Niger bank. However, the Onitsha South council authorities, led by Orji and Onuachalla, contested this claim, stating that NIWA has no legal right to collect revenues from markets owned and managed by state and local governments.

According to the council officials, the disputed markets fall outside the 100-meter right-of-way as outlined in the NIWA Act of 2004.

They also stated that markets and motor parks are not navigation activities and thus fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of the local government, as specified in the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended).

ACP Nzotta later released the arrested individuals back to NIWA officials on the condition that NIWA representatives, market leaders, and Onitsha South council authorities meet later to amicably resolve the dispute.

Speaking to reporters after the incident, Paul Onuachalla expressed frustration over NIWA’s persistent interference in market activities, disregarding the constitutional management of markets and parks by local government authorities.

Onuachalla revealed that earlier on Wednesday, NIWA officials had deployed illegal revenue collectors, assisted by military personnel believed to be naval ratings in camouflage uniforms to forcibly collect stallage fees from traders.

When traders resisted, the revenue collectors and their military allies pushed them out and locked their shops.

The council secretary further explained that their intervention was prompted by urgent distress calls from traders who reported being forcefully evicted and locked out of their shops by the combined NIWA-military team.

Chief Emeka Orji expressed concern over the military personnel’s involvement, noting that they failed to inquire into the legality of the operation before assisting NIWA in what he described as an illegal act.

The chairman of the traders, who identified himself as Mr. Nnamdi, told reporters via phone that the traders have been paying stallage fees to the state government since the market’s establishment by former Governor Chris Ngige. He condemned the “commando-style” invasion by NIWA and the military, describing it as shocking and unacceptable.

Efforts to reach the Onitsha Area Manager of NIWA and the Commander of the Onitsha Naval Outpost were unsuccessful, as their phone lines went unanswered after multiple attempts.

This latest incident reflects the ongoing dispute between NIWA and Onitsha South Local Government over revenue collection from markets situated near the River Niger bank. NIWA maintains that any property within 100 meters of the riverbank falls under its jurisdiction, while the Onitsha South council insists that place of market is beyond 100 meters and there for does not fall within NIWA jurisdiction.

According to the council markets and parks are under its exclusive control .