By Regina Aforgu
Sunday trading activities along the Onitsha-Owerri Road by Nkpor Main Market in Idemili North Local Government Area(LGA) of Anambra State are creating serious traffic challenges and raising concerns over the safety of traders, pedestrians and motorists.
A visit to the area on Sept.13 showed traders, including women and children, displaying food items, vegetables, fruits and second hand clothing on the roadside, particularly beneath the Nkpor flyover bridge.
Oranges, garden eggs, ginger, tomatoes, peppers, ugu, uziza, cocoyam and other produce were displayed on sacks and directly on the bare, sandy ground, with some stalls positioned close to refuse and drainage points.
The activities have narrowed the available road space, leaving pedestrians with little or no designated walkway and forcing motorists, including commercial buses, to manoeuvre through the congested stretch.
A resident, Mrs Agu Adaugo, said the roadside trading had contributed to recurring traffic congestion in the area, particularly on Sundays.
She noted that pedestrians and motorists were increasingly competing for limited space, creating conditions that could result in accidents.
The presence of children among the traders has further heightened safety concerns, as some were seen moving close to moving vehicles while assisting with sales.
Beyond the traffic and safety concerns, the roadside display of food items also raises hygiene questions. Produce placed on dusty surfaces is exposed to vehicle exhaust, sand, refuse and flies, potentially compromising food cleanliness.
The development comes against the backdrop of recent enforcement activities by the Anambra State Government through the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA Brigade), which included the removal of illegal structures and seizure of goods obstructing roads, walkways and drainage channels in parts of Nkpor, Ogidi and Abagana.
However, some traders have returned to the roadside, explaining that Sunday trading provides an opportunity to reach customers who do not go into the main market on Sundays.
One of the traders said roadside sales help some families earn income and meet their daily needs, making it difficult for them to abandon the practice without an alternative.
Residents, while acknowledging the traders’ economic concerns, appealed for a balance between livelihood and public safety. They called for sustained enforcement against roadside trading and suggested that a properly designated area could be considered for legitimate Sunday trading.
They urged traders to move their activities away from the highway, stressing that keeping the road and pedestrian areas clear would help reduce congestion, protect lives and improve the safety of the busy corridor.
Regina Aforgu is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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