Radio, Television Technicians Protest Alledged Eviction From Onitsha Market

By Chuks Eke*

No fewer than 250 radio and television technicians, under the umbrella of the Association of Radio and Television Technicians Anambra State, ARTTANS, have protested the State Government’s alleged forced eviction from the Onitsha market, allegedly in collaboration with members of the Electronic Spare Parts Traders Association, ESPTA.

The protesters, who were carrying placards with various inscriptions, insisted that the leadership of the ESPTA Onitsha branch was behind the government action.

They also accused the ESPTA leadership of working with the state government to evict them under the guise of building modern shops at Harbour Industrial Layout Atani, in the State’s Ogbaru Local Government Area.

Some of the placards read, “Governor Chukwuma Soludo, come to our rescue. Freedom of association is our fundamental right. We are artisans, not traders. Governor Soludo, save us from this intimidation. E.T.P.T.We are not members of your organisation, the new market is only for members of the Electronic Spare Parts Traders Association, and we oppose forced ejection, among other things.

The protesters, who marched from their office at Modebe/Iweka Roundabout to Modebe Avenue, concluded their peaceful protest at the Traders’ House, the administrative headquarters of Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, ASMATA.

Addressing reporters shortly after the protest at the ASMATA headquarters in Onitsha, Mr. Sabastine Ebilite, State Chairman of ARTTANS, explained that the ejection notice was actually served to the Spare Part Traders to relocate their businesses to Harbour Industrial Layout, not the ARTTANS, but due to the nature of their work and the fact that they share shops with dealers, they became victims of the situation.

According to him, we are aware of the relocation notice placed in front of our shops by the state government through the governor’s Special Adviser on Trade and Market, Chief Evaristus Obi, dated June 11th, 2024, being the last day for every occupy to vacate, but we are not traders as instructed by the state government, we are artisans, we repair radios and televisions, which gives us the mandate to operate anywhere, particularly where we are now in Iweka road Onjanjab.

“Due to the nature of our work, we cannot operate in an industrial layout, but spare part traders are pressuring us to join them. We are distinct from them. We want to stay here on Iweka Road, which is close to residential homes. We are not interested in relocating to that location. We are extremely comfortable here.

“We are appealing to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to come to our aid because, as I speak to you, we are currently struggling to feed our families. The situation exacerbates the country’s already difficult circumstances. The governor should intervene immediately because we are law-abiding citizens who pay our taxes and government revenues on time.

Over 250 of my members are currently roaming the streets of Onitsha doing nothing.

“We require urgent attention from the government,” the chairman stated.

In response, Mr. Chidi Iwuji Uju, State Vice Chairman of ESPTA, Onitsha branch, denied the allegation, noting that his members are also affected by the government action.

He warned the protesters to always verify information before making accusations against them.

Speaking on behalf of the Anambra State Almagmated Traders Association, ASMATA, President General, Chief Humphrey Anuna, and Chairman of the Association, Onitsha Zone, Sir Eric Uwoma, described the protest as peaceful and promised quick government intervention.

In a phone interview, Chief Evarist Uba, Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s on Trade and Market, stated that the governor does not support street trading and encourages traders to go to their markets instead of blocking roads for trading.

According to reports, the state government has closed the electronics market on Iweka Road in Onitsha due to traders’ refusal to relocate to their permanent site in Harbour Industrial Layout Atani, Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state.

In response to the development, Mr Celestine Anere, Managing Director of Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra, OCHA Brigade, told reporters that the market’s relocation was necessary because its current location does not align with the city’s planning.

According to Mr Anere, the market’s closure was necessary because traders refused to relocate to the new permanent site despite several notices from the state government.

He assured the traders that the new site is better designed to accommodate them and that the government has provided the necessary facilities for smooth business transactions, and he encouraged traders to relocate to Atani.