Traders at the Onitsha Main Market and other markets across Anambra State have pledged to put an end to the long-running Monday sit-at-home, declaring their readiness to resume full commercial activities every Monday in line with the directive of Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
The assurance was given on Thursday during an interactive meeting between market leaders and the governor, following the recent closure of the Onitsha Main Market and concerns over the prolonged sit-at-home that has severely disrupted economic activities across the South-East.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the Chairman of Onitsha Main Market, Chijioke Okpalugo, said traders were fully prepared to reopen for business on Mondays in support of the governor’s “One Anambra” vision. However, he appealed for stronger security measures to ensure the safety of traders, customers, and their goods.
According to Okpalugo, market leaders are requesting a visible and sustained security presence in and around markets, full operation of motor parks to ease the movement of people and goods, and firm action against individuals who enforce or profit from the sit-at-home order.
“Our governor is a listening and progressive-minded leader,” he said. “We believe he will consider our appeal and reopen the market for our collective good because he genuinely cares for his people.
“We have resolved to fully open for business on Mondays. We have lost enormous fortunes since the sit-at-home began in the South-East. We are completely in support of the governor’s action against it.”
In his response, Governor Soludo declared that all markets and shops in Anambra State must remain open on every working day, including Mondays, stressing that the era of sit-at-home-induced shutdowns was over.
He assured traders that the state government would overhaul the security architecture around markets and commercial centres to protect them from harassment, intimidation, and criminal activities.
The governor also presented traders with a “renovate or rebuild” option for the Onitsha Main Market, proposing either a complete redevelopment into a modern trading hub or a comprehensive upgrade of existing structures.
“Igboland and Anambra must move forward. Business activities must continue, regardless of the option chosen,” Soludo said. He described the enforcement of the sit-at-home as a criminal enterprise, distancing it from the agitation for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“It is not linked to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. He does not support the sit-at-home. If it does not happen in Umuahia, his hometown, why should it happen in Onitsha and Nnewi?” the governor queried.
Soludo further alleged that many of those enforcing the sit-at-home were not indigenes of Anambra State and warned that the government would not hesitate to deploy extreme measures if defiance continued.