Onitsha Market Disruption Ripples Across Southeast Supply Chain

The partial closure and demolition of Onitsha Main Market in early March disrupted supply chains across the Southeast geopolitical zone, with secondary effects reaching Rivers, Imo and Cross River states. Onitsha is the dominant distribution hub for imported dry goods, palm oil and frozen foods reaching the Southeast and South-South. Traders in Owerri, Aba and Port Harcourt reported delayed restocking from Onitsha suppliers during the first week of March. Commodity prices for garri and palm oil in those markets edged up 5–8% before supply normalised through alternative routes via Asaba and Enugu. The Onitsha Traders Association called on Governor Soludo to provide designated offloading zones for goods-carrying trucks displaced by the demolition exercise.