Traders at the Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State have reopened their shops in compliance with a directive issued by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, following a one-week shutdown of the market.
Governor Soludo had last Monday ordered the closure of the market for one week after observing what the state government described as traders’ compliance with the Monday sit-at-home order imposed by non-state actors.
The governor also warned that failure by traders to reopen their shops at the end of the shutdown would attract further sanctions, including an extension of the closure for another week and possibly longer periods.
However, one week after economic activities in the market were grounded, traders were seen returning to their shops on Monday.
A visit to the market revealed that many traders resumed business as early as 8:45am. From Egerton to the Ose foodstuff market, down to The Young Park—one of the major entrances into the Main Market—traders were observed setting up their wares.
Commercial activities were also visible from Emeka Offor Plaza to Sokoto Road, extending to Lagos Line and Marine areas of the market. Several shops were open, while customers had begun patronising traders who resumed operations.
The development indicates growing compliance with the Anambra State Government’s directive to ignore the sit-at-home order and restore normal economic activities across the state’s commercial hubs.
