Sit-At-Home Crumbles as Onitsha Market Reopens

Traders in Onitsha Main Market, Anambra State, reopened their shops, on Monday, in compliance with the directive of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

For some years now, traders across the South East region have stayed off their business places in solidarity with the leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

But in a move to tackle the trend, Soludo had last Monday ordered that the market be shut down for one week.

The governor 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.

During a visit to the market on Monday, it was observed that many traders resumed their businesses as early as 8:45am.

Daily Trust observed that from Egerton axis of the market to Ose food stuff market, down to the young park, one of the major entrances into the Main Market, traders displayed their wares.

From Emeka Offor Plaza to Sokoto road, and to Lagos line and Marine, many traders were seen attending to customers who trooped in, in large numbers.

Residents Differs over Govt Directive

While some residents welcome the government’s action, others who are in support of the incarcerated IPOB leader urged Soludo to rather channel his energy to facilitate the release of Kanu from prison.

Some traders who had already started selling in their shops, said they had earlier complied to the sit-at-home order for fear of being attacked.

Most of them who spoke on condition of anonymity, said if government can assure them of adequate security, they were ready to open their shops every Monday.

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