By Juliana Nwachukwu
No fewer than two staff members of Onitsha South Local Government Area, Anambra State, reportedly sustained varying degrees of injuries when officials of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) stormed two markets—Ndende and Oseokwodu—in Onitsha, claiming ownership of the properties.
Upon their arrival, the local government contractor managing the markets informed the council chairman, Mayor Emeka Orji, who immediately dispatched the Local Government Secretary, Mr. Paul Onuachalla, and other officials to ascertain the situation.
It was gathered that upon the team’s arrival at the markets, NIWA officials—comprising police personnel from its Lokoja headquarters and other unidentified operatives—allegedly assaulted the local government officials. In the fracas, two LG staff members sustained injuries, while two local government security operatives accompanying the officials were arrested. They were later released without charge, warning, or documentation.
Reacting to the incident, Council Secretary Mr. Onuachalla asserted that the markets are under the jurisdiction of Onitsha South Local Government and accused NIWA of repeated unlawful interference in council affairs, despite a Federal High Court ruling in Awka by Hon. Justice Nnamdi Dimgba which, according to him, affirmed the council’s authority.
He further advised NIWA to desist from interfering in council properties and responsibilities as stipulated in the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and from misleading law enforcement and the public regarding the legal status of the Ndende and Oseokwodu markets.
“NIWA has no right to rent, mortgage, or lease any part of Ndende or Oseokwodu markets—or any market or motor park for that matter. What they have done is a serious offense under the Anambra State Local Government Administration Law, 2024, by preventing the local government from collecting due revenues and performing its constitutional duties. Their entry into the markets and motor parks to harass and assault council staff is unlawful,” Onuachalla stated.
He added that inquiries with the Divisional Police Officer and other security agencies in Onitsha revealed that they were unaware of the NIWA team’s operation, describing the action as an illegal invasion.
“They injured two of our staff. They arrested and later released our local security operatives without any documentation, knowing full well that their actions were illegal,” the secretary further disclosed.
He confirmed that the council has since resumed full control of Ndende Market, with its staff back on duty.
In a swift reaction, NIWA Area Manager, Mr. Suleiman Nicholas, stated that he led officials from Lokoja on an inspection of the NIWA Right of Way along Niger Street, Onitsha. He explained that the agency had previously arrested a 54-year-old man, Orji Kelechukwu, who is currently being prosecuted for allegedly encroaching on a parcel of land belonging to NIWA without authorization.
According to Nicholas, Onitsha South Local Government attempted to disrupt the inspection. However, naval officials and police officers accompanying the NIWA team dispersed the crowd, arresting two individuals in the process.
“The Local Government Chairman, Mr. Emeka Orji, arrived at the scene with operatives of Operation Udo Ga Achi—‘Agunechemba’—probably to intimidate us. But when he saw the naval officers, he didn’t step out of his white Hummer bus. After seeing his men dispersed and two of them arrested, he drove off,” Nicholas said.
“If the chairman truly believes the land belongs to the local government, he should have come down to assert that position, but he chose not to,” he added.
