By Chuks Eke
Leaders of Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, ASMATA have given a path on the back of traders at the Onitsha Main Market for putting the issue of Monday sit-at-home behind them and reopening their shops for normal trading activities on Monday, barely a week after the market was shut down for one week by Governor Chukwuma Soludo over continued observance of the sit-at-home order.
The state Market Leaders, Chief Humphrey Anuna, President-General of ASMATA and Chief Jude Nwankwo, Patron of ASMATA and President of Building Materials International Market Ogidi, told newsmen on Monday that they were happy that government has suspended the closure of the main market, just as the traders complied with the directive to henceforth open their shops for trading activities on Mondays.
Anuna and Nwankwo said although not all the shops were opened on Monday, they were optimistic that by next week Monday and the subsequent Mondays, complete trading activities would bounce back in earnest.
They however expressed concern that some of the shops at the main market we’re marked for demolition by the state government and wondered what the owners of such shops marked for demolition would fall back on if their shops were eventually demolished as is being proposed.
On the alleged resignation of Chairman of Onitsha Main Market, Chijiioke Okpalugo, Anuna and Nwankwo stated that Okpalugo did not resign his appointment as Caretaker Chairman of the market, as speculated in some quarters on Monday, due to alleged threat by the non state actors.
A visit to the market at about 11:30am on Monday showed that as at 8.45 am, over 70 percent of shops were opened at the Fashion Line, Children’s Wear Line, Accessories Line, Lagos Line, Ado Line, Mandela Line, of the market with trading activities going on smoothly, unlike what it used to be in the past Mondays.
However, activities at the adjoining markets such as Ochanja and Relief Market recorded very low turnouts as the areas were deserted and scanty.
The reopening of the Main Market comes amid heightened security measures and warnings against compliance with non-state actors, Indigenous People of Biafra sit-at-home orders.
A visit to the Onitsha Main Market showed that many traders were in their shops as at that early 8.45 am, setting up wares from Egerton to Ose Foodstuff Market and The Young Park, a major entrance to the Main Market.
Areas like Emeka Offor Plaza, Sokoto Road, Lagos Line, and Marine were active, although with few customers beginning to patronise shops.
At the markets, traders were seen displaying their wares and waiting for customers while expressing excitement that with the development may signal the end of Monday sit-at-home at the market.
The Chairman, Onitsha Main Market, Chijioke Okpalaugo, in an interview with journalists, dismissed insinuation making the rounds that some non-state actors have threatened him to lock the market.
“I did not receive any threat from any quarter to lock the market today. As you can see activities are ongoing and traders are opening their shops joyfully without any fear of threat.
“A visit to the market showed that many traders were back as early as possible, setting up wares from and waiting for customers to patronise them. It is clear that the traders are complying with the government directives to ignore the sit-at-home order,” Okpalaugo added.
A trader, Chief Silas Igwe, said, “We are happy with the development as commercial activities begin on Mondays after over four years. Monday is the most serious day for business and we hope this is sustained.”
Heavy security personnel were seen patrolling various sections of the market as more traders resume.
It was also gathered that about 10,000 shops have been marked for demolition.
