Assessment of Market Infrastructure and Its Role in Urban Economic Development in Onitsha, Anambra State

Markets are strategic nodes of economic activity in Nigerian cities, and the quality of their infrastructure directly influences trade volumes, employment, urban revenues, and city competitiveness. This study assesses the state of market infrastructure and its role in urban economic development in Onitsha, Anambra State, home to the largest market in sub-Saharan Africa by geographical size. A descriptive survey method was used, collecting data from 230 traders and market administrators across the Main Market, Ogbo-Ogwu Market, and Bridge Head Market. A structured questionnaire captured trader perceptions of infrastructure quality, including access roads, drainage, electricity supply, waste management, and storage facilities. Interviews with Anambra State Market Authority officials and Onitsha Local Government Area planners assessed policy frameworks for market development. The study also documented the spatial organization of market activities and the degree of zoning enforcement within market premises. Findings are anticipated to reveal deteriorating physical infrastructure, overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, and poor linkages between markets and the broader city road network, all of which constrain trade efficiency. The research examines correlations between infrastructure scores and trader revenue outcomes using simple regression analysis. Recommendations include prioritization of market infrastructure in Onitsha's urban renewal agenda, public-private investment frameworks for market redevelopment, and participatory planning approaches involving trader associations in facility upgrade design. Keywords: Market infrastructure, Urban economy, Onitsha, Trade, Development planning.