By Christian ABURIME

Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has issued a scathing critique of traders in Onitsha, questioning the selective observance of “sit-at-home” orders and labeling the continued Monday closures as a deliberate act of economic sabotage.

The Governor confirmed that the Onitsha Main Market will remain shut for one week as a punitive measure, insisting the mandated closure must be served in full. Speaking at the Light House in Awka, Governor Soludo expressed bewilderment at the market’s sudden return to Monday lockdowns following a productive holiday season.

Governor Soludo pointed out the hypocrisy in the market’s operations, noting that the unofficial lockdowns were ignored when it suited the traders’ pockets during the festive period. “How come the Main Market opened on Mondays during the Yuletide and closed back afterwards?” Soludo questioned. “This is a deliberate attempt to redefine the state’s economic calendar.”

The Governor dismissed security concerns as a valid excuse for the closures, highlighting that apart from the security measures already put in place by his government, over 150 security officials are currently stationed within the Onitsha Main Market alone.

He noted that while streets and other businesses across the state have resumed Monday activities, the major markets remain shut. “With security largely restored across the state, the continued Monday closures are unjustified,” he stated. “Anambra is one of Nigeria’s largest economies. By closing on Mondays, we are missing out on significant daily business opportunities, especially for the poor who depend on daily income. This is a struggle for the economic soul of our state.”

The Governor emphasized that his administration has exhausted its patience. He reminded traders that the government holds the authority to revoke land allocations under the Land Use Act if it serves the public interest.

“The government has been patient, but we are now prepared to enforce the law,” Soludo warned. “We already have a new master plan for the Main Market in place since 2023. We are working to secure Anambra’s future and reassure investors that we operate a full five or six-day business week.”

Governor Soludo detailed the government’s extensive efforts to end the sit-at-home era, including; amnesty programs for agitators, establishment of a Bureau for Missing Persons to address grievances, direct engagement with the proscribed IPOB, who he noted have distanced themselves from the lockdowns.

The Governor concluded by framing the current market closure as “painful collateral damage” necessary to protect the state’s collective prosperity, urging politicians and residents alike to stop enabling economic decline.