*As traders bow to Soludo, reopen shops
Traders of the Onitsha Main Market and environs have reopened their shops in compliance with the directive by the Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo.
The Governor had last Monday ordered that the market be shut down for one week due to the perceived compliance with the Monday sit-at-home order by non-state actors.
Soludo also warned that if traders failed to open at the end of the one-week shutdown, the market would be closed for another week, and subsequently for longer periods.
However, a week after economic activities were grounded, the traders were seen trooping into the market.
A visit to the market by the Channels TV crew on Monday, showed that several traders resumed their businesses as early as 8:45am.
Starting from Egerton Road, to Ose Okwodu Food Stuffs Market, down to The Young Shall Grow Park, one of the major entrances into the Main Market, hundreds of traders are seen setting up their wares.
From Sir Emeka Offor Plaza to Sokoto Road, up to Lagos Line and Marine, traders had opened their shops, while customers have started to patronize opened shops.
With the action and presence of both traders and buyers, it is clear that the traders are complying with government’s directives of ignoring the sit-at-home order.
The order, which has been in place for about four years, disrupted economic and social activities across the South-East and has been publicly condemned by the Soludo administration.
The state government had urged residents to go about their lawful activities without fear and shunning the illegal order, which it describes as an economic sabotage on the region.
Security personnel, including the Police and the Army, among others, were later deployed to seal the market gates and ensure compliance.
For years, parts of Anambra State have observed the Monday sit-at-home that disrupted commercial and social activities, leaving markets, schools, and workplaces deserted.
The practice, imposed by non-state actors in the South-East (the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra), has been widely criticised for harming the state’s economy, forcing traders, transport workers, hospital workers, social services workers and students indoors, especially in hubs like Onitsha.
In April 2022, the Governor formally declared the sit-at-home over, announced amnesty for youths in hideouts, and promised a peace and reconciliation committee.
He has since said the practice has largely faded, stressing that Anambra is secure and urging residents to resume normal activities, though some still stay at home out of caution. (Channels TV)
