The Anambra State Government has introduced a mandatory attendance register for traders in all markets across the state, as part of measures to curb the persistent closure of markets on Mondays.
Gatekeepers News reports that Governor Chukwuma Soludo announced the directive on Thursday during a meeting with market leaders, line chairmen and other stakeholders at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Awka.
Attendance was taken at the meeting, which followed the recent shutdown of the Onitsha Main Market and growing concerns over insecurity and sit-at-home disruptions in the state.
Soludo explained that line leaders in each market would be responsible for taking daily attendance, while local government chairmen would collect the registers every Monday by 10:00 a.m.
He described the current state of the Onitsha Main Market as an “eyesore” and disclosed that the government is considering a complete redevelopment of the facility.
According to the governor, the existing structures may be demolished and replaced with a newly designed market featuring modern facilities, including spacious motor parks and walkways. He added that a proposed design for the market had been submitted to him more than three years ago.
Soludo expressed concern over the continued closure of markets on Mondays, noting that people still engage in other activities on those days except opening shops and reporting to work.
He recalled leading a delegation of Igbo leaders, including Prof. Pat Utomi, to Kuje Correctional Centre to meet Mazi Nnamdi Kanu over the sit-at-home order. According to him, Kanu later instructed his lawyers to publicly dissociate him from the directive.
“There is no justification for locking up markets, especially when the Onitsha Main Market alone has over 150 security personnel,” Soludo said.
He added: “How can you be destroying the homeland you claim to be fighting for? If you cannot do business in Anambra, there are 36 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to operate from.
“Traders have the right not to open their shops, but I also have the right to revoke the land on which those shops stand if they refuse to open for business on Mondays.”
The governor stressed that opening or closing markets and motor parks does not significantly affect state revenue, as stallage fees are paid annually.
However, he said the government is more concerned about the welfare of the people, which is why markets must operate on Mondays and workers must go to work.
Responding to concerns raised by market leaders, Soludo promised to enhance and upgrade security systems in markets to complement existing security arrangements.
“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,” he said.
Soludo also disclosed that the state government has directed all motor parks in Anambra to open on Mondays, warning that any park that fails to comply would be shut down for one week.
He declared that anyone who enforces the closure of shops or markets on Mondays is aiding criminal elements loyal to Simon Ekpa and others destabilising 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.
The governor urged traders and residents to report threats or intimidation, assuring them that security agencies would track down those responsible.
“If anyone sends you threatening messages, forward them to us. We will get those criminals, and we will provide additional security personnel,” Soludo added.
