By Monday Ajogun
Two hundred shops at the Bridge Head Market in Onitsha have been sealed by the Onitsha South Local Government Council.
The markets were sealed for failing to comply with the state government’s directive to discontinue the Monday sit-at-home culture.
Speaking to journalists, on Tuesday, the Onitsha South Local Government Chairman, Mr Emeka Orji, described the traders’ actions as unfortunate and counterproductive.
Orji who led the monitoring exercise on Monday said that the affected shops were located across six market lines, and were found under lock and key during a compliance monitoring exercise.
According to him, there are strong indications that the allocations of the affected shops may be revoked and reassigned to other traders, pending the outcome of a full investigation by the authorities.
“It is sad and unfortunate that while the state government is making concerted efforts to revive economic activities in the state, some individuals are bent on sabotaging those efforts.
”Other markets and shops in Onitsha were open for businesses, but traders at the Bridge Head Market chose to shut down their operations.
“This amounts to economic sabotage against the state, and we will no longer tolerate such actions as the affected shops will remain sealed until next Monday,” he said.
The LG boss stressed that if the affected traders fail to comply by reopening for business on Monday, the closure could be extended indefinitely.
On his part, the Secretary of the Council, Mr Paul Onuachalla, said that the traders’ actions constituted serious offences, including economic sabotage and related crimes under the law.
Onuachalla further disclosed that the shop allocations of the affected traders may be revoked in line with existing laws. (NAN)