The Anambra State Government has directed traders in 12 additional markets across the state to resume full business activities on Mondays, warning that failure to comply could lead to temporary market closures.
The directive follows the state government’s decision on Tuesday to shut the Onitsha Main Market for one week after traders defied an order to operate on Mondays, a development the government said was disrupting economic activities.
The affected markets are Ochanja Central Market, Bridgehead Market, Ogbaru Main Market, Building Materials Market, Ogidi; Agba-Edo Auto Spare Parts Market, Nnewi; New Auto and Motorcycle Spare Parts Market, Nnewi; Fairly Used Motorcycle Spare Parts Market, Nnewi; New Auto Spare Parts Market, Nkpor; Nkpor Main Market; Old Mercedes Benz Spare Parts Dealers Market, Nkpor; Old Motor Spare Parts Market, Obosi; and Electrical Dealers International Market, Obosi.
The directive, titled “Abolishment of Monday Sit-at-Home,” was contained in a circular signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade and Markets, Chief Evarist Uba, and addressed to market leaders under the Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA).
Market chairmen were instructed to ensure traders open for business on Mondays in compliance with Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s executive order aimed at restoring normal economic activities across the state.
According to the circular, government monitoring teams will conduct random inspections, and any shop found closed on Mondays will be sealed, while occupants may face legal action. Markets that fail to comply risk being shut for one month.
“Any shop that is not open will be sealed by government officials, and the occupant may face legal action. Any market found not complying will be closed for one month,” the circular stated.
Meanwhile, Governor Soludo has scheduled a meeting with market leaders on Thursday, January 29, at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Awka, to discuss the Monday sit-at-home policy and market operations.
The meeting is expected to bring together market chairmen, secretaries, zonal leaders and line chairpersons across the state.
The government clarified that the meeting was convened at the request of some market leaders seeking the reopening of Onitsha Main Market, and not in response to the traders’ protest on Tuesday.
A government source said security would be reinforced during the meeting to prevent any disruption.
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