Residents of Anambra State have expressed their frustration towards market leaders, bank operators, and motor park officials for the ongoing sit-at-home exercise that has persisted across the state. Despite assurances from Governor Chukwuma Soludo that the sit-at-home order would be lifted starting in January 2023, many residents continue to adhere to it, negatively impacting trade and commerce. During a meeting with civil servants last December, Soludo stated that full working days would resume in January, suggesting that the Indigenous People of Biafra’s sit-at-home order would soon be a thing of the past. However, the public remains resolute in observing the order.
On Mondays, major cities such as Onitsha, Nnewi, Ekwulobia, Obosi, and parts of Awka remain eerily quiet, with markets, banks, motor parks, schools, and petrol stations closed. The usually bustling Onitsha-Owerri Road and the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway are largely deserted, with minimal traffic. Although there has been a recent uptick in business activities, the discovery of three lifeless bodies along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway on Monday morning caused panic, further deterring residents from venturing into the area.
Paul Okeke, a resident of Nnewi, attributed the continuation of the sit-at-home order to the inaction of banks and market authorities, urging them to enhance security around public spaces. Chief Maduneme Obiaku, a wholesaler based in Onitsha, noted that while some sectors of the economy have begun to function again, key establishments such as major markets, banks, courts, schools, and petrol stations remain closed. He remarked, “Some sectors of the economy have picked up, with commercial buses resuming operations and mini markets starting to open. However, the major markets and banks, which are crucial for the economy, are still not operational. Money cannot be deposited or withdrawn from banks, nor can transactions occur in the markets, as they remain locked. It is high time the people put an end to this exercise before our economy collapses.”
Transporter Ike Onyeacho highlighted that the sit-at-home order has become a tradition, with many viewing Mondays as a day of rest. He criticized those who enjoy this break, suggesting that it fosters laziness and dependency on the hard work of others. Onyeacho asserted, “The only way Soludo can restore normalcy on Mondays is by directing market leaders to reopen their markets or face dismissal. If the markets are open, economic activities will begin to recover.”
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