ONITSHA MAIN MARKET REOPENS AS TRADERS COMPLY WITH SOLUDO’S DIRECTIVE
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
Traders at the Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State on Monday reopened their shops in compliance with a directive issued by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, following a one-week government-ordered shutdown.
Governor Soludo had last Monday directed the closure of the market for one week after observing what he described as compliance by traders with the Monday sit-at-home order imposed by non-state actors in the South-East.
The governor warned that failure to reopen at the expiration of the shutdown would attract stiffer sanctions, including an additional week-long closure and possibly longer periods.
However, a week after economic activities were grounded, traders were seen returning to the market in large numbers. A visit by Channels Television on Monday showed that many traders resumed business as early as 8:45 a.m.
From Egerton Road through Ose Foodstuff Market and down to Young Park, one of the major entrances to the Main Market, traders were seen setting up their wares. Similar scenes were observed from Emeka Offor Plaza to Sokoto Road, Lagos Line, and Marine, with shops open and customers gradually returning.
The development indicated compliance with the state government’s directive to disregard the sit-at-home order and resume lawful economic activities.
The Monday sit-at-home, which has been observed intermittently for about four years, has disrupted economic and social activities across the South-East, forcing markets, schools, and workplaces to shut down. The Soludo administration has consistently condemned the practice, describing it as illegal and economically damaging to the region.
The state government has repeatedly urged residents to go about their lawful activities without fear, stressing that the sit-at-home amounts to economic sabotage. Security personnel, including the police and the army, were deployed to the market area to secure the environment and ensure compliance with the reopening directive.
Governor Soludo has been at the forefront of efforts to end the sit-at-home in Anambra State. In April 2022, he formally declared the practice over, announced amnesty for youths in hideouts, and unveiled plans for a peace and reconciliation committee.
Although the governor has since maintained that the sit-at-home has largely faded and that Anambra is secure, some residents have continued to stay indoors on Mondays out of caution.
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