metro
By Benprince Ezeh
THE sit-at-home order in the South East was partially observed on Monday in some states. The exercise, which has been widely complied with throughout the zone, has been criticized by the state governors and many stakeholders from the zone, describing it as ‘anti-economic and anti-people and called on the people to go back to their normal Monday life.
In Enugu metropolis, traders bemoaned the absence of customers in markets after they opened for the first time, following the cancellation of the Monday sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
The traders at Ogbete, Mayor, and New Markets said the absence of many customers led to poor sales.
Realnews reports that except banks on Old Market Road and Ogui Road, banks on Independence Layout, New Haven, Achara Layout, and Agbani Road opened for business.
Traders, especially mechanics, were seen coming in and going out with various spare parts at Coal Camp, while a few trucks were seen at Kenyatta loading and unloading building materials.
Chima Chukwu, a trader who deals in medicines and hospital equipment, said: “I like many others came out here around 9 am and I have been here for three hours, just three customers have come here.
“I think our people are yet to appreciate the fact that nobody is harming anyone anymore. They should come out because we can’t continue like this,” he said.
“I believe it’s a gradual process before many people will realize that there’s no more sit-at-home on Mondays,” he said.
However, an online newspaper publisher in Enugu said it was like a public holiday. “People here observed the sit at home and didn’t go out, it was like a public holiday where many people stay at home and not go about their business,” he said.
In Anambra, a resident of Onitsha simply known as Ekene said that the markets were opened, but people didn’t turn up.
“The markets were opened unlike other weeks but had a low turnout. Maybe people are still afraid of what would happen and decide to stay at home for their safety.
In Awka, a government official told Realnews that there were movements and people went about their business. “I went to an auto shop to fix my car and all the shops were open.
“Many businesses were open and nothing like sit at home was observed,” he said.
However, public servants in the state went to work on Monday and according to media reports, this Monday was the first time public servants in the state did not observe the sit at home order.
The state government had in a public service announcement a few days ago by C-Don Adinuba, Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, urged the people of the state, including civil and public servants to commence socio-economic activities on Monday, stating that no Monday again in the state should be observed as a work-free day.
There were reports of improvement in commercial activities on Monday in some towns in Anambra state. For instance, in Onitsha, Awka and Nnewi most markets opened, but recorded low turnout of traders and customers.
A trader, Celestine Ebili said: “We opened today according to the directives by our leaders and government officials.
“We have very low turnout of customers, but it is good that we have resumed business activities on Mondays. By next Monday, I expect a full attendance in our markets across the state,” he said.
There was also remarkable improvement in vehicular movements and motor parks in the state were open for business.
Although primary and secondary schools in the state remained closed, but some banks offered skeletal services to customers.
Tags: IPOB sit-at-home South East
