… Govt Officials Visit Markets
By Ikeugonna Eleke
The Anambra State Government has begun a campaign to end the infamous sit-at-home phenomenon which has crippled business activities in the state and other parts of the Southeast Zone every Monday.
In the latest move, government officials have been deployed to various markets to boost the confidence of traders and to encourage them to open their shops.
The; Special Adviser on Trade and Markets, Chief Evarist Uba; his Security counterpart, AVM Ben Chiobi, Rtd, on Monday, moved round major markets in the state on the mission.
Addressing market leaders in Awka, Ezeajughi who led the team, told traders who opened their shops to encourage others to do same.
His words, ‘Government has decided to provide maximum security across markets and has concluded arrangements with financial institutions across the state to open for business as well.
‘Government will do everything possible to ensure that full return of business on Mondays is achieved.
‘We warn any market leadership that will sabotage the government’s present efforts towards achieving a boosted economic growth and stability to take caution because they will be seriously sanctioned.’
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anambra State Command, had previously announced that operatives had been deployed to banks to safeguard them.
However, past attempts by the government to stop the sit-at-home phenomenon had failed, largely because many people, especially civil servants, had been using fear as an excuse to dodge work; while a few other people had been genuinely afraid of the safety.
Even in Awka, which has been the safest place since the skirmishes trailing the sit-at-home order begun, many banks still refuse to open to the public on Mondays, while others allow customers in through their back doors. The banks spoken to had said they were acting under instructions from their head offices.
However, other private businesses have been going on in Awka and in other cities across the state except in the few areas where the activities of gunmen enforcing the sit-at-home are still rampant.
It is hoped that the latest government move to end the phenomenon will work this time.
Additional report from Jude Atupulazi.
