Anambra loses N8bn weekly to sit-at-home — commissioner
The Anambra State Government says the state loses an average of N8 billion every Monday due to the continued sit-at-home shutdown of markets and businesses.
The Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, disclosed this on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, while reacting to the shutdown of Onitsha Main Market ordered by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
Mefor said the sit-at-home had moved beyond security concerns and was now causing serious economic damage to the state.
Fear factor no longer exists, says government
According to the commissioner, the sit-at-home was initially driven by fear, but security conditions in the state have improved.
“Initially there was fear factor, but it’s no longer there. Anambra security has been fairly restored,” Mefor said.
He added that traders had gradually converted Mondays into an extension of their weekend, a situation he said was harming the socio-economic life of the state.
“Statistics has it that Anambra is losing an average of N8 billion every Monday that the markets are shut,” he stated.
Soludo shuts Onitsha Main Market for one week
Governor Soludo ordered the closure of Onitsha Main Market, West Africa’s largest market, on Monday after discovering that traders ignored his directive to resume trading on Mondays.
The governor said the market would reopen next Monday, warning that he would shut it for one month if traders failed to comply.
“I don’t mind closing this market for the rest of this year, and if it gets too much, we will bring bulldozers and level this market,” Soludo said.
“If you are not ready to trade on Monday, leave Anambra and go elsewhere.”
Traders reject directive, insist Monday is rest day
Some traders dismissed the governor’s order, arguing that the state government has no right to compel them to open their shops.
A trader, Mr Mbabefo, who owns a shop at Fancy Line, said traders now use Mondays to rest after a full week of work.
“We trade from Monday to Saturday, and on Sunday we go to church and attend community meetings. Monday is the day we have time to rest,” he said.
“I don’t think the governor can stop us from opening our shop on Tuesday after resting on Monday.”
IPOB backs traders as security enforces closure
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in a statement by its spokesperson Emma Powerful, supported the traders and insisted that the governor could not close the market.
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IPOB told traders to open their shops on Tuesday despite the shutdown order.
However, security operatives were deployed to Onitsha Main Market on Tuesday morning to enforce the closure.
An armoured personnel carrier was stationed at the entrance gate, while armed police officers were deployed around the market, forcing traders to remain outside.
Some traders were seen pleading with authorities as the shutdown took effect.
