Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has said that business activities in the South-East are improving following the suspension of the weekly sit-at-home order.
He revealed that more than 45,000 shops now open for business on Mondays at the Onitsha Main Market alone. According to him, this shows that the region’s economy is gradually recovering.
Soludo spoke to journalists after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He described the reopening of markets and schools on Mondays as a major turning point for the South-East.
The sit-at-home order was declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) over the detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The governor said the repeated shutdown of businesses and schools over the years caused serious economic and social damage. Many traders lost income, and some investors moved their businesses out of the region.
He explained that missing every Monday meant losing almost one full day out of a six-day business week, which greatly affected small businesses and schools.
Soludo said his administration improved security across the state to restore confidence. He noted that more than 62 criminal camps have been destroyed.
The government also created a local security outfit called Agunechemba, along with anti-cult and anti-touting task forces, to help maintain law and order.
According to him, these efforts have reduced crime and made it safer for residents and traders to return to their normal activities.
He described Onitsha Main Market, one of the largest markets in West Africa, as a clear example of progress. He said the market now witnesses heavy trading and a positive atmosphere on Mondays.
The governor also announced plans to improve the market’s infrastructure, recover parking spaces that were turned into stalls, and upgrade the market to strengthen its position as a major commercial centre in the region.
