The Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, on Monday, directed the immediate shutdown for one week of the Onitsha Main market, reputed as one of West Africa’s largest markets.
The Governor’s anger stems from the defiance of traders at the market to begin Monday’s trading days, and end Monday sit-at-home exercise. Governor Soludo was on an unscheduled visit to the Onitsha Main market, where he found that the traders had continued with the Monday’s sit-at-home practice.
A resolution reached at the retreat for the second term in office of Governor Chukwuma Soludu had arrived the Onitsha Main market on an unscheduled visit to ascertain the level of compliance with the Executive order, effectively ending the Monday’s sit-at-home practice.
The market was empty, deserted and a clear defiance of the government directive that traders must return to full business on Mondays. He calls the action of the traders “economic sabotage.”
Governor Soludo who was visibly angry, ordered a one-week shutdown of the market, threatening stiffer punishment.
Some traders at the market who spoke to AIT on their personal ordeals, narrated that even when they open on Mondays, there are no buyers.,
Major cities in South East states have suffered what economic watchers describe as economic sabotage setbacks for over four years since the now imprisoned leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu began a self determination agitation in the South East region of Nigeria.
(Editor: Roluke Ogundele)
