Market women raise concerns over Afor Umuaka Market alleged extortions.

Some traders at Afor Umuaka Market have raised a series of concerns and allegations against the leadership of the Afor Umuaka Market Management Committee, headed by Chief Uzoma Achazie, following the committee’s recent decision to dissolve all commodity unions operating in the market. The reactions came after Chief Achazie, in an interview with Umuaka Times last week, announced through a communiqué that all commodity unions in the market had been abolished.

According to the management, the decision was taken to promote fair competition, encourage free enterprise, and allow traders to determine prices based on prevailing market conditions rather than directives from commodity associations. The committee stated that the move was intended to eliminate monopolistic practices and create a more open trading environment.

The committee also assured traders and customers that Afor Umuaka Market remains open to everyone, irrespective of their community of origin. It maintained that traders from Umuaka, neighbouring communities, other parts of Imo State, and beyond are free to conduct business without intimidation, harassment, or interference from any dissolved commodity union or external group. It further warned that any individual or group attempting to continue the activities of the dissolved unions would face legal sanctions.

While offering explanations for the decision, Chief Achazie alleged that some commodity associations had imposed excessive registration fees and other conditions on new entrants. He cited the example of ice fish traders who were allegedly required to pay about ₦250,000 in addition to supplying cartons of stout and malt before they could begin trading. He also alleged that some associations deliberately discouraged new traders in order to reduce competition and maintain high prices. The communiqué announcing the dissolution was jointly signed by the Chairman of the AforUmuaka Market Management Committee, Chief Uzoma Achazie, and the Secretary, Mr. Chibuike Duruoha.

The fish sellers’ union at AforUmuaka last week, dismissed the claims of Chief Achazie as frivolous and lacking merit. However, following the announcement, Umuaka Times visited AforUmuaka Market and spoke with several traders, many of whom rejected Chief Achazie’s claims and accused him of intentionally misrepresenting the situation in the market.

In separate voice notes obtained by Umuaka Times, some market women alleged that they have been subjected to various forms of hardship under the current market administration. One trader claimed that any trader who fails to close business by 6:30 p.m., regardless of the reason, is required to pay a ₦5,000 penalty the following day. She questioned the justification for the sanction, arguing that some traders do not even make up to that amount in daily profit.

The same source further alleged that traders are required to pay ₦15,000 before they are permitted to plaster shops they purchased with their own funds. Another trader alleged that owners of goods delivered to the market are required to pay ₦500 per vehicle, while larger vehicles are charged ₦1,000. The traders questioned the legal basis for the levies.

There were also allegations that anyone wishing to install a container in front of a shop is required to pay ₦30,000 before receiving approval.

Some traders further accused the market leadership of actions they described as detrimental to their businesses. One sad allegation involved an elderly woman whose pot of pap (akamu) was allegedly overturned by Uzoma Achazie himself, resulting in the loss of her goods. The traders claimed the incident attracted the revenge of a young man who physically confronted Achazie over his wickedness to the helpless old woman. Achazie denied this claim last week during a chat with Umuaka Times.

An unidentified commercial motorcycle rider also alleged that the chairman has a history of intentionally disrupting traders’ businesses and damaging their goods over the years.

The traders who spoke to Umuaka Times also expressed dissatisfaction with the market’s sanitation and prayer schedules. According to them, although the weekly sanitation exercise is officially scheduled to run from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., it sometimes extends until about 1:00 p.m., preventing them from conducting business. They similarly alleged that daily prayer sessions often last for more than two hours, affecting trading activities. Upon all these, the market is still expected to close by 6:30 pm where no cognizance is given to the wasted hours.

Responding to the allegations, Chief Achazie dismissed the claims and defended the committee’s actions. Speaking to Umuaka Times, he maintained that the dissolved commodity unions had previously imposed far more burdensome conditions on traders.

“I am happy they admitted that money was being collected from people. Before now, they were collecting as much as ₦150,000, together with cartons of malt and stout. They also failed to mention that they rationed trading days, allowing some people to sell today and preventing them from selling the next day, among many other rules that hindered traders from selling their goods,” he said.

Addressing claims that some traders were made to pay ₦100,000, Achazie explained that the amount represented accumulated sanitation levies.

“The ₦100,000 they referred to was because they refused to pay the ₦200 monthly sanitation levy per person for over two years,” he stated.

He reiterated that the position of the market management remains unchanged, insisting that the dissolution of commodity unions has made it possible for traders from different communities to conduct business in AforUmuaka Market without fear of harassment or intimidation.

Achazie also rejected claims that only the fresh fish union had been dissolved, insisting that the decision affected all commodity unions operating within the market.

“The stand of Afor Umuaka Market remains that people are now free to come and sell their goods without fear of being molested. It is not only the fresh fish union that was dissolved; every commodity union was affected, and many people are happy with our decision,” he said.

The allegations made by the traders have not been independently verified by Umuaka Times as at press time last week. The market management committee continues to maintain that its reforms are aimed at improving fairness, transparency, and access to trading opportunities for all market participants, while the traders have maintained that they are facing extortions, damage of goods, wasted hours and illegal taxes from Uzoma Achazie and his team.