Traders at the New Motorcycle Spare Parts Market, popularly known as Nkwo Nnewi, on Monday reopened their shops in compliance with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s directive aimed at ending the long-running Monday sit-at-home practice.
The governor, through his Special Adviser on Trade and Markets, Evarist Uba, had earlier ordered the closure of the market during a visit, criticising traders for failing to open for business on Mondays despite government instructions.
Uba had warned that the ban would be extended if traders continued to ignore the directive after one week.
Ban Lifted After Compliance
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the market was reopened after the Chairman of Nnewi North Local Government Area, Echezona Anazodo, visited the market and observed a high level of compliance among traders.
“I am happy to see that traders complied with the order to resume business,” Anazodo said.
“I want to believe that if there was even half of this turnout last week, the market would not have been shut down.”
He added that authorities would inspect the market and seal shops belonging to traders who failed to open, stressing that sanctions would be targeted rather than affecting the entire market.
“We don’t want a situation where the entire market would be shut down just because of a few traders; instead, those traders should bear their brunt themselves,” he said.
What you should know
Traders at Nkwo Nnewi market have resumed Monday business after Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration shut the market over non-compliance with its directive to end the sit-at-home practice.
Following widespread compliance, the ban was lifted, but officials say shops that remain closed may be sealed individually.
