…The traders made this commitment on Thursday during an interactive meeting with the governor,
ANAMBRA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Traders at the Onitsha Main Market, along with their counterparts in other markets across Anambra State, have vowed to put an end to the Monday sit-at-home and resume full business activities on Mondays, in compliance with the directive of Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
The traders made this commitment on Thursday during an interactive meeting with the governor, held after the shutdown of the Onitsha Main Market and the prolonged sit-at-home that has severely disrupted commercial and economic activities in the South-East.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the Chairman of Onitsha M rs Allain Market, Chijioke Okpalugo, stated that traders are ready to reopen on Mondays in support of the governor’s “One Anambra” agenda. However, he appealed for strengthened security measures to ensure the safety of lives and property.
Speaking on behalf of market leaders, Okpalugo called for a consistent and visible security presence in markets, the full operation of motor parks to ease the movement of goods and customers, and firm action against individuals who profit from or enforce the sit-at-home order.
He noted that Governor Soludo is a responsive and forward-thinking leader and expressed confidence that the government would address their concerns and reopen the market for the benefit of the people. He added that traders have suffered significant financial losses due to the sit-at-home and are fully backing the governor’s efforts to abolish it.
In his response, Governor Soludo emphasized that all markets and shops across Anambra State must remain open on all working days, including Mondays, declaring that the era of sit-at-home–related market closures had come to an end.
The governor reassured traders that the state would restructure its security framework around markets, vowing to shield Anambra’s commercial hubs from harassment and intimidation.
He unveiled a “renovate or rebuild” proposal for the market, giving traders the choice between a full-scale redevelopment into a modern trading complex or an extensive refurbishment of the existing facilities.
“Igboland and Anambra must move forward. Economic activities will continue regardless of the option selected. The sit-at-home enforcement has become a criminal venture and is no longer related to the agitation for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” he said, dismissing claims linking the directive to the detained IPOB leader.
“It has nothing to do with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. He does not support the sit-at-home. If it does not take place in Umuahia, his hometown, why should it happen in Onitsha and Nnewi?” the governor queried.
He also alleged that many of those enforcing the sit-at-home were not indigenes of Anambra State and warned that the government would resort to decisive measures if the defiance continued.
