By Titus Eleweke, South East Editor
AWKA, Anambra – The Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo, has assured traders across the state of enhanced security at strategic market locations on Mondays in a bid to end the persistent closure of markets.
Governor Soludo gave the assurance on
Thursday in Awka while addressing market executives and line chairmen from various markets across the state. He stated that the government would deploy additional security personnel to markets and surrounding areas to restore traders’ confidence and ensure the free conduct of business.
According to the governor, security operatives will be stationed at strategic points in and around markets beginning from this Monday.
He emphasized that the state government is committed to working closely with market leaders to rejig security arrangements and ensure they are effective.
“We are going to work with you. We will allow security personnel to stay with you for weeks if necessary. Security is not just about guns; it is also about will and mindset” Soludo said.
The governor further disclosed that the government has issued a directive mandating all motor parks across the state to open on Mondays. He warned that any park that fails to comply with the directive will be shut down by the government for one week.
Soludo declared that anyone who shuts down shops or enforces market closures on Mondays is aiding criminal elements loyal to Simon Ekpa and others destabilizing the South-East and Anambra State.
“Anybody found closing shops on Mondays will be treated as a criminal. We cannot harbour criminals in Anambra State,” he said.
He urged traders and residents to report any threat messages or intimidation to the government, assuring them that security agencies would track down and arrest the perpetrators.
“If anyone sends you threatening messages, forward them to us. We will get those criminals. We will also provide you with additional security personnel,” he added.
The governor noted that the situation has degenerated from an initial “sit-at-home” order to a total shutdown of economic activities on Mondays, pointing out the inconsistency in the practice.
“On Mondays, people can go to churches, clubs, and stadiums, but they claim markets cannot open. Anyone who says markets are shut because of insecurity needs a mental examination,” Soludo said.
He also dismissed claims linking the Monday market closures to the detention of Nnamdi Kanu, describing such assertions as false and misleading.
“It is completely untrue and absolutely crazy to associate sit-at-home with Nnamdi Kanu’s detention. If it were about him, why is there no sit-at-home in Umuahia, his hometown? Show me anywhere in the world where children are stopped from going to school because someone is detained,” he stated.
Soludo stressed that the sit-at-home is being enforced by criminal elements bent on crippling the region’s economy, adding that Anambra and the South-East must be rescued from such forces.
“We cannot destroy the people we claim to be fighting for. Anambra must move forward. Igboland will move forward. Many of those enforcing this shutdown are not even from Anambra,” he said.
The governor reiterated the state government’s resolve not to yield to criminal elements attempting to take over the state. He also explained that line chairmen were invited to the meeting because they play a key role in monitoring attendance and activities within the markets.
Soludo further revealed the government’s determination to revive major markets, particularly the Onitsha Main Market, lamenting that its original master plan has been distorted.
“We are prepared to spend money to restore life to the main market. There is no parking space anymore, and illegal structures and shanties have taken over,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of Onitsha Main Market, Hon. Chijioke Okpalaugo, told the governor that traders are afraid for their lives, which is why many comply with the sit-at-home order.
He appealed to the government to strengthen security presence within the markets and maintain close engagement with traders.
Okpalaugo also urged the governor to ensure that motor parks open on Mondays to enable the transportation of goods.
He further appealed to churches to review their Monday programmes, noting that many run activities from morning till night, and called on banks to resume operations on Mondays.
He additionally requested that traders be allowed to access their shops on Fridays to clean and prepare ahead of resumption.
The Secretary of Onitsha Main Market, Mr. Chibuzor Nwosu, also appealed to the governor to allow security operatives to remain in the market for several weeks before any eventual withdrawal to ensure lasting confidence and stability.
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