The Anambra State Government on Monday ordered the closure of Nkwo-Ogbe Market in Ihiala Local Government Area after traders declined to open for business in compliance with the weekly Monday sit-at-home observed in parts of the South-east.
Chairman of the Ihiala Local Government Council, Anayochukwu Ojiako, confirmed the action to journalists, stating that the market would remain shut for one week as a disciplinary measure.
Ojiako said the decision followed repeated efforts by authorities to ensure full commercial activities on Mondays across the council area. He maintained that the state had taken steps to discourage adherence to the sit-at-home directive, which he described as illegally imposed by the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra.
According to him, Nkwo-Ogbe Market stood out as the only trading centre in the locality that consistently refused to operate on Mondays.
“Other markets like Nkwo-Okija, Uzoigwe market Ubahuekwem, Eke-Agbagba market Uli, Ogbo-Osisi market and a host of other markets opened for commercial activities every Monday except Nkwo-Ogbe market.
“The market leaders have done everything within their capacity to persuade the traders to commence Monday business transactions.
“But their pleas fell on deaf ears as traders refused even when he personally opened the market on Mondays,” he said.
Ojiako stressed that the week-long closure was intended to reinforce compliance with state directives and demonstrate that continued defiance would attract sanctions.
The enforcement action mirrors a similar measure taken earlier this year when Governor Charles Soludo ordered the temporary shutdown of Onitsha Main Market over non-observance of Monday trading.
State authorities have repeatedly argued that the weekly restriction significantly affects economic activity. The government has claimed, without disclosing detailed data, that the sit-at-home practice results in losses estimated at about N8 billion each week.