Markets and banks stay quiet despite Soludo’s warnings.

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

ONITSHA — On Monday, major markets, banks and commercial premises in Onitsha, Anambra State, experienced very low activity, even though Governor Chukwuma Soludo repeatedly warned against violating the sit‑at‑home order.

A survey of key markets, including Onitsha Main Market, Ochanja Market, Marine Modern Market, Ose‑Ekwodu Market and Biafra Market, revealed that only about 30 percent of shops were open.

The state government had cautioned traders against observing the Monday sit‑at‑home and threatened to seal any shop that remained closed, imposing fines on defaulters.

Investigations found that some shop owners who were not present at their businesses had asked neighbouring traders to open their shops on their behalf, in order to avoid sanctions from government enforcement teams.

Several commercial banks, filling stations and other business premises also stayed closed all day.

In contrast, the President of Building Materials International Market, Ogidi, Chief Jude Nwankwo, and the chief of Ogbaru Main Market, Chief Ndubuisi Ochiogu, reported that traders in their markets had largely complied with the government directive.

Speaking separately, they said that about 98 percent of traders in their markets had opened on Monday.

They noted that patronage remained low because many customers were reluctant to travel due to security concerns and the shortage of commercial transportation.

They added that traders who opened their shops were protected by members of the Anambra State Vigilante Group, operating under the code names Operation Udo Ga‑Achi and Agunechemba.

The market leaders said that their management teams had implemented measures to enforce compliance, including sealing shops that fail to open on Mondays and sanctioning traders when they return to the market.

They expressed optimism that continued enforcement and improved security would gradually restore normal business activities across the state on Mondays.

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