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The Anambra State Government has declared an end to the infamous Monday sit-at-home directive in 12 additional markets in the state.
Evarist Uba, the special adviser to Governor Soludo on trade and markets, announced this in a circular addressed to market leaders in the state on Wednesday.
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The announcement followed Governor Soludo’s earlier closure of the Onitsha Main Market on Tuesday over traders’ alleged failure to comply with the sit-at-home directive.
The illegal directive is often enforced by a faction of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
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The governor’s action has triggered heavy protests by angry traders in the state, who on Tuesday backed the Monday sit-at-home directive in honour of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
‘Ignore Monday sit-at-home or risk closure’
In the circular, Mr Uba directed traders in 12 additional markets to resume business activities on Mondays and warned that their markets could be closed if they fail to open their shops on Mondays.
The newly affected markets include Ochanja Central Market, Bridgehead Market, Ogbaru Main Market, Building Materials Market, Ogidi, Agba-Edo Auto Spare Parts Market, Nnewi, and New Auto and Motorcycle Spare Parts Market, Nnewi.
Others are Fairly Used Motorcycle Spare Parts Market Nnewi, New Auto Spare Parts Market Nkpor, Nkpor Main Market, Old Mercedes Benz Spare Parts Dealers Market Nkpor, Old Motor Spare Parts Market Obosi, and Electrical Dealers International Market, Obosi.
The circular was specifically addressed to leaders of major markets under the Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association.
Mr Uba directed the chairpersons of the markets to notify traders to open for business on Mondays in compliance with Governor Soludo’s executive order, which he said was aimed at restoring normal economic activity in the state.
The aide said government monitoring teams are expected to conduct random inspections, and markets found wanting may face temporary closure for about one month.
“Any shop that is not open will be sealed by government officials, and the occupant may face legal action. Any market found not complying will be closed for one month,” he said in the circular.
Background
The sit-at-home directive began in the South-east in August 2021 when IPOB imposed it in the region.
The directive, which was to be observed every Monday, was intended to press the Nigerian government to release its detained leader, Mr Kanu, who was facing terrorism charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The group later suspended the weekly directive, limiting it to days Mr Kanu appeared in court. However, residents of Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia and Anambra states continued to observe the directive largely out of fear.
IPOB repeatedly distanced itself from the continued enforcement, insisting that those behind it were criminals exploiting the group’s name.
Despite this, Simon Ekpa, a Finland-based Biafra agitator, persisted in declaring sit-at-home orders, even after being suspended by the IPOB faction loyal to Mr Kanu.
In July 2023, PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Kanu, through his lawyer Aloy Ejimakor, directed Mr Ekpa to halt the action. Mr Ekpa dismissed the directive as fake, insisting the order would continue unless Mr Kanu personally addressed him in Finland.
READ ALSO: ‘Your method is faulty’: Reps member tackles Soludo over Onitsha market closure
Efforts by Igbo leaders, including Enugu Governor Peter Mbah, Anambra Governor Mr Soludo, and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to end the practice yielded limited results.
While the sit-at-home has largely disappeared in Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi states, it persists in Anambra and Imo.
Meanwhile, Mr Kanu was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for terrorism in November, while Mr Ekpa received a six-year prison sentence in Finland for similar offences.
