Traders in Onitsha and other Anambra markets pledge to end the Monday sit-at-home as Governor Soludo assures security and full market reopening

Traders at the Onitsha Main Market and other major markets across Anambra State have pledged to effectively end the long-running Monday sit-at-home, declaring their readiness to resume full commercial activities in line with the directive of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

Also read: Onitsha Market traders protest one-week closure by Soludo

The traders gave the assurance on Thursday during an interactive session with the governor, following the continued closure of the Onitsha Main Market and the prolonged sit-at-home that has severely disrupted economic activities in the South-East.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the Chairman of Onitsha Main Market, Chijioke Okpalugo, said traders were united in their resolve to reopen on Mondays in support of the governor’s “One Anambra” vision. However, he appealed for enhanced security to safeguard lives and property.

Okpalugo, speaking on behalf of market leaders, called for a sustained security presence in markets, the full operation of motor parks to ease the movement of traders and customers, and decisive action against those who benefit from or enforce the sit-at-home order.

“Our governor is a listening and progressive-minded governor. We strongly believe that with this appeal, he will consider us and reopen the market for our good because he loves his people,” Okpalugo said.

He added, “We have resolved to open for full activities on Monday. We have lost so much fortune since the creation of the Monday sit-at-home in the South-East. We are fully in support of the governor’s action against the order.”

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 market closures was over.

The governor assured traders that the state government would overhaul the security architecture around markets, pledging protection for traders against harassment and intimidation.

He also presented a “renovate or rebuild” option for the Onitsha Main Market, offering either a complete redevelopment into a modern trading hub or a comprehensive upgrade of existing structures.

“Igboland and Anambra will move forward. Business activities must continue irrespective of the option chosen,” Soludo said, describing the enforcement of the sit-at-home as a criminal enterprise that no longer had any link to the agitation for the release of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“It is not linked to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. He does not support the sit-at-home. If it doesn’t happen in Umuahia, his hometown, why should it happen in Onitsha and Nnewi?” the governor asked.

Also read: Soludo orders one-week closure of Onitsha Main Market

Soludo further alleged that many of those enforcing the sit-at-home were not indigenes of Anambra State and warned that the government would deploy extreme measures should defiance continue.