Soludo Vows To, Strength Market Security As Traders Promise To End Sit@Home
Gov. Chukwuma Soludo has assured that he would rejig the security environment around markets in Anambra with a view to ensuring they remain open from Monday to Saturday every week.
Soludo said this during a crucial meeting with market leaders from across Anambra in Awka on Thursday.
The meeting was a follow up to the closure of the Onitsha Main Market on Monday which was part of the measures towards ending the Monday sit-at-home menace that has become a culture in Anambra.
The sit-at-home has dealt a heavy blow on the economy of Anambra and held economic activity of Southeast down for many years.
Addressing the traders of Onitsha Main Market specifically, Soludo presented a “renovate or rebuild” ultimatum.
He said they should chose between the state government levelling existing structures for construction of new, world-class trading hubs or it should be made to undergo a massive modernisation.
Soludo said whichever they chose, they should bear in mind that era of Monday closures is over and there was no going back.
“I decided to oblige this meeting as an interactive session so I can once again listen to you
“For four years, we engaged with you, we discussed, pleaded, and even held prayer sessions with all the churches in April 2022 to end this. It is now time for more action, he said.
Soludo reiterated his stance that the current enforcement of the sit-at-home order has transitioned from a political protest to a criminal enterprise which no longer served the interests of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (MNK).
“It is not linked to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” the Governor insisted. “In 2016/2017, I led 13 Igbo stakeholders to see him , and afterwards addressed a press conference asking for his release, and he was released afterwards.
“I also visited him in DSS custody in March after I assumed office, he does not support the sit-at-home.
“If it does not happen in Umuahia, his hometown, why Onitsha and Nnewi?
“Igbo land and Anambra will move forward,”he said.
Soludo said those enforcing the order were largely non-indigenes of Anambra and warned that “extreme measures” would be deployed by the government if the defiance persists.
Soludo reaffirmed his commitment to securing commercial hubs of Anambra’s and promised that the security architecture across all markets would be overhauled to prevent harassment.
In response, Mr Chijioke Okpalugo, Chairman of the Onitsha Main Market, expressed the willingness to comply but highlighted the logistical and security challenges they faced.
Okpalugo pledged that traders would begin Monday operations in alignment with the Governor’s vision for a “One Anambra.”
The traders’ leadership presented several requests to ensure the transition is successful, including: a visible and proactive security presence to protect traders and customers, ensuring motor parks are fully operational.
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