Despite Soludo’s instructions, Anambra Traders continue to remain at Home.
Monday’s business and economic activity in Anambra State’s commercial centres of Onitsha, Nnewi, Obosi, and Ekwulobia was completely shut down.
The majority of the stores in the main marketplaces of Onitsha, Ochanja, Nkpor Motor Parts, Electrical, and Mgbuka remained closed, which contributed to the poor participation of traders.
It was also noted that banks, car dealerships, schools, courts, and office buildings closed on Mondays as usual.
This was in opposition to the order issued by Governor Chukwuma Soludo during his visit to Onitsha Main Market last week.
In support of the sit-at-home movement, the governor threatened to seal any store or plaza that stayed closed on Mondays.
The South-East loses an estimated N19.6 billion on Mondays, according to Soludo, who bemoaned the ongoing boycott of events on that day.
He threatened to impose harsh sanctions, including the closure of stores for up to a month, on any trader or company that refused to operate on Mondays.
He then said, “I am here to ensure that your shops are open.
From now on, every Monday, the Main Market must be open for business. To uphold peace and order, the governor further pledged to provide security surrounding the markets, saying that police officers and members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps would be on patrol.
The governor has not yet made his promised visit to the market as of Monday when this article was filed.
In the meantime, NSCDC officers were seen conducting “anti-sit-at-home operations” and urging residents to leave their homes while monitoring a few of the cities’ markets.
Some merchants who attended the markets on Monday remained outside their stores, fearing for their lives and belongings if they opened.
At the Main Market in Udoka, a textile seller remarked, “A few of us came around to observe the situation.”
It’s encouraging that the NSCDC officers are there.
It will be beneficial if they can carry on.
“The majority of people are terrified to open their businesses for fear of being harmed. The people selling on the side of the road are the ones who arrived at the market today.
In August 2021, the Indigenous People of Biafra leadership instituted a sit-at-home policy for Mondays throughout the Southeast to exert pressure on the Federal Government to free their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who was detained.
The people have continued to observe the sit-at-home order because of fear of violence, even though the organisation halted it except on the days that Nnamdi Kanu was scheduled to appear in court.
