The Anambra State government has vowed to seal any shop that does not open on Monday in compliance with the sit-at-home order, describing such an act as economic sabotage to the state.
The Special Adviser (SPAD), to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Trade and Markets, Chief Evarist Ubah disclosed this during a meeting with market chairmen, stakeholders, lines chairmen and secretaries of markets in Idemili zone, held at ASMATA Secretariat.
He warned that anyone who failed to open their shop on Monday would have it sealed for one month.
According to the SPAD, days were gone when people used propaganda to frustrate the good intentions of the government, and advised traders to open their shops every Monday to avert the wrath of the government.
He said, “We want the markets to open every Monday. I don’t want your shops to be locked up for one month.
“We don’t want to seal the entire market because of some people who do not open their shops, but only those who don’t open their shops on Monday.
“Whoever that gives you threat, send me name of the person, there is law on cyber crime now, you can be tracked down to come and explain, so be warned of fake news.
“We can’t allow the sit-at-home that has lasted for five years to be a tradition. The aim of sit-at-home is to kill our business, and we can’t take it, we will continue to check every Monday to ensure that the shops are open”, he stated.
While advising the market leadership to use town criers to remind the traders of government decisions, Ubah warned that any market that fails to open on Monday would be handed over to the Agunaechemba security outfit to use as a base.
President General, PG, Ogidi Building Materials International Market, Chief Jude Nwankwo, commended SPAD for the meeting and pledged that the traders would not disappoint the government.
“The era of sit-at-home is over. In other states, children go to school, but here in Anambra, we don’t. We should help the government to help our markets.
“The governor has played his role by ensuring the opening of all markets in the state. It is now left for us to ensure the markets are opened every Monday because we lose a lot by closing our market”, he stated
Earlier, President General, Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, ASMATA, Chief Humphrey Anuna, expressed satisfaction that the governor took the bull by the horns by physically reopening the markets himself.
He assured that all measures have been put in place to ensure the security of lives and property in the state.
Anuna advised the traders to open their shops as expected to avoid their shops being sealed, as the governor has vowed to better the welfare of the traders and, by extension, the people in the state.
Speaking separately, Charles Ikeli, Chairman of Amalgamated Tyre Dealers Association, ATDA, Nkpor, Samuel Ifurunwa, chairman, Old Motor Car Spare parts Market, Ugwuagba Obosi, and Obiorah Ofoleh, Chairman New Auto Spare parts Market, Nkpor, pledged to abide by the government’s demand that the markets must be opened on Mondays.
