ENUGU, Nigeria – Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah on Monday, July 17, 2023, toured various parts of the state capital to assess compliance with the ban on illegal sit-at-home orders declared by non-state actors.
This move comes as traders and residents express their fatigue with the directive, stating it has negatively affected their businesses and household economies.
The governor, who visited several business centers including Spar Mall, Roban Stores at Bisalla Road, Market Square, Shoprite, Zenith Bank at Ogui Road, Celebrities, Ogbete Market, Garki Awkunanaw Market, Mayor Market, Abakpa Market, and the State Secretariat, expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance.
However, he warned that traders who continued to obey the sit-at-home order stood to lose their shops to more serious-minded businessmen.
According to Governor Mbah, the state has been losing over N10 billion every Monday due to the sit-at-home orders.
“Enough is enough. This foolishness must end, and it must end now. We cannot be marginalising ourselves and still complain of marginalisation,” he stated.
The Governor further warned that any shop found closed on Monday due to compliance with the illegal sit-at-home order would be sealed by the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority.
The shop’s operating license would also be revoked and reallocated to another entrepreneur.
Market leaders and business owners have assured the governor of their readiness to comply fully with the ban on sit-at-home orders.
The President of Enugu State Amalgamated Traders Association, Comrade Stephen Aniagu, and the leader of Abakpa Nike Market, Bernard Anike, confirmed that all shops would be open from next Monday.
Development economist, Richard Emeka Ezeh, commended Governor Mbah’s proactive efforts to end the sit-at-home order, acknowledging the negative impact the directive has had on the state’s economy.
A trader, Chioma Nwagu, expressed the frustration of many: “We have to come out to do our business. We can’t feed ourselves while staying at home. We have to come out and do our businesses.”
