… According to Soludo’s order, any shop that remains closed will be sealed by government officials,
ANAMBRA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | The Anambra State government has ordered traders in 12 more markets to fully resume business on Mondays, cautioning that failure to comply may lead to temporary closure of the affected markets.
The directive builds on the state government’s earlier action taken on Tuesday, when Onitsha Main Market was shut for one week following traders’ refusal to operate on Mondays, an action the government said was hampering economic activities.
The markets now affected by the directive are Ochanja Central Market, Bridgehead Market, Ogbaru Main Market, Building Materials Market, Ogidi; Agba-Edo Auto Spare Parts Market, Nnewi; New Auto and Motorcycle Spare Parts Market, Nnewi; Fairly Used Motorcycle Spare Parts Market, Nnewi; New Auto Spare Parts Market, Nkpor; Nkpor Main Market; Old Mercedes Benz Spare Parts Dealers Market, Nkpor; Old Motor Spare Parts Market, Obosi; and the Electrical Dealers International Market, Obosi.
The directive, titled “Abolishment of Monday Sit-at-Home,” was conveyed in a circular signed by the Special Adviser to the Soludo on Trade and Markets, Chief Evarist Uba, and addressed to leaders of major markets under the Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA).
Market chairmen were directed to inform traders to resume business activities on Mondays, in line with Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s executive order to revive normal economic activities across the state. Government monitoring teams will carry out random checks, and any market that fails to comply risks being shut down for one month.
According to the circular, any shop that remains closed will be sealed by government officials, while the occupant may face legal action. Markets found in violation of the directive will also be closed for one month.
Meanwhile, Governor Soludo has fixed a meeting with market leaders for Thursday, January 29, at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Awka, to deliberate on the Monday sit-at-home policy and general market operations. The meeting is expected to bring together market chairmen, secretaries, zonal leaders, and line chairpersons from across the state.
The government explained that the meeting was convened at the request of certain market leaders seeking the reopening of Onitsha Main Market, not in reaction to the traders’ protest on Tuesday. A government source added that security would be strengthened during the meeting to ensure order and prevent any disruption.
