After years of enforced inactivity, traders at the Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State on Monday reopened their shops, signalling what Governor Chukwuma Soludo described as the end of the sit-at-home practice in the commercial city.
Although the market was largely deserted in the early hours, with locked shops and minimal vehicular movement across parts of Anambra State, confidence gradually returned as the day progressed. By midday, traders began opening their shops and engaging in normal business activities, dispelling fears of attacks.
Several traders confirmed that attendance registers were signed as part of the governor’s directive to ensure compliance with Monday trading. Security presence was also visibly heightened, with police and military patrols stationed in and around the market to guarantee safety.
A trader at Emeka Offor Plaza, Mrs. Chinyere, who sells phone accessories, welcomed the development, saying traders were relieved to resume full business activities on Mondays. She noted that Anambra should not remain economically stagnant while other parts of the South-East function normally.
Governor Soludo later visited the market around 2 p.m., where he interacted with traders, patronised shops and commended them for overcoming fear. Declaring an official end to the sit-at-home, he described the reopening as historic, noting that it was the first time in about five years that Onitsha had conducted full Monday trading.
“For the first time in five years, Onitsha is open for business on Monday. We have ended sit-at-home here,” Soludo said, drawing cheers from traders as he moved around the market.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) commended both the traders and the governor for what it described as a courageous step toward economic recovery.
In a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the group said ending the sit-at-home would significantly help revive the economy of the South-East, which it said had suffered prolonged disruptions.
HURIWA, however, urged security agencies to sustain efforts to address lingering insecurity in the region, calling for transparency over conflicting reports concerning the status of a notorious IPOB commander alleged to have resurfaced after being declared captured.
The group said Nigerians expect credible clarification from the Defence Headquarters to reassure the public and strengthen confidence in ongoing security operations.
By David-Chyddy Eleke, Awka
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