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From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Five years after total lockdown on Mondays, markets reopened, yesterday, in Onitsha Main Market, as traders defied another sit-at-home order after remaining indoors for one week.
Though many traders stayed at home out of fear for the safety of their lives, hundreds of others opened their shops for business in Onitsha Main Market, Bridge Head Market, Ose Okwodu, and Ogbaru Main Market visited by Daily Sun.
There was initial hesitation in the morning hours when some of the traders dragged their feet into the market, while some milled round the premises to survey the situation; but, later in the day, many started opening their shops while others still at home later came when they noticed that everywhere was calm.
At Ose Okwodu market, near the Onitsha Main market, most foodstuff dealers and dry fish sellers were busy offloading their wares while others also settled down to trade.
There was a strong presence of security agents like the police and soldiers who stationed their vehicles, including Armoured Personnel Carrier, at the DMGS roundabout, maintaining security.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo stormed the Onitsha main market in the afternoon amidst cheers from the traders who assured him that they will continue to open their shops subsequently on Mondays.
The governor said his visit to the historic Onitsha Main Market served as a symbolic and practical declaration that the state is open for business, signaling an end to the civil disobedience that has crippled the South-East economy since 2021.
He took a walk through the economic heartbeat, regarded as high-traffic trading zones, including: Ose Market, Bright Street, Lagos Line, Emeka Offor Plaza, among others.
Accompanied by key officials, Governor Soludo engaged and conversed with the traders and also purchased local goods—ranging from fabrics to food items to demonstrate that the fear factor used to enforce the shutdown has faded and died
“Ndi Anambra are taking back their day, their economy, and their future,” Governor Soludo told a gathering of traders. “Today marks an end to the sit-at-home”, he stated.
Soludo urged the traders to take back their economy by coming out to trade six days in a week, instead of staying at home on Mondays when there is no more security scare in the state.
He told the traders not to succumb to fear and intimidation by some faceless elements trying to create the impression that everywhere is unsafe on Mondays, noting that he has ordered enhanced security within the Onitsha city metropolis.
Chairman, Onitsha Medicine Dealers Market, Ogbogwu, Bridgehead, Ndubuisi Chukwuleta, who spoke on the development, thanked the traders for their level of compliance in coming out to trade yesterday. He expressed hope that the momentum will be sustained going forward, next week, and commended Governor Soludo for instilling confidence in the traders towards reclaiming their Monday trading days again.
