Storytimes Newspapers

 In a renewed push to eradicate the lingering effects of the Monday sit-at-home order, the Anambra State Government has sealed the popular Nkwo-Ogbe Market in Ihiala Local Government Area. The closure, effective immediately, is set to last one week as a punitive measure against traders who refused to open their shops for business on Monday, March 2, 2026. The decision was confirmed by the Chairman of Ihiala Local Government Council, Hon. Anayochukwu Charles Ojiako, who described Nkwo-Ogbe as the only market in the area that has consistently and blatantly defied the state government's directive to resume normal commercial activities on Mondays. According to the chairman, multiple efforts had been made to sensitize and persuade traders at Nkwo-Ogbe to comply, but these appeals were ignored. “We have tried on several occasions to get Nkwo-Ogbe market traders to commence Monday activities, but all to no avail,” Ojiako stated. He highlighted that other markets in the locality, including...

Challenges in Anambra State's commercial hubs like Onitsha Main Market, Ochanja, and others. Despite Governor Chukwuma Soludo's efforts to end the long-standing Monday sit-at-home order (originally linked to IPOB but now officially canceled), markets have seen sluggish activity. Many traders have reopened shops, but customer turnout—especially from outside the state—remains low due to lingering fears, insecurity perceptions, and practical hurdles. Key issues highlighted: Low patronage: Markets are largely empty on Mondays, with few buyers showing up even as shops open. Traders report unsustainable sales that fail to cover daily costs. High transport costs: Fares have surged dramatically (e.g., trips formerly ₦200 now ₦500–₦1,000; Onitsha to Nkpor Junction up to ₦1,000 by bus or ₦1,500 by tricycle). Limited vehicles on roads (many drivers avoid Mondays due to past risks) lead to scarcity, delays, and inflated prices, making it hard for traders and buyers to justify travel. Trade...

 Traders, transporters, commuters, and residents in Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu States are expressing cautious optimism as commercial and social activities on Mondays show signs of revival following the formal cancellation of the sit-at-home order. A recent survey by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) across the three states revealed a noticeable increase in business operations compared to previous Mondays under the restriction. Markets, transport hubs, and shops that once remained shuttered are now seeing gradual patronage, though activity levels remain below pre-2021 figures when the order was not in force. The sit-at-home directive, originally enforced by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) starting in 2021 to protest the detention of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, had paralyzed economic life every Monday across much of the South-East. It led to massive losses—estimated in trillions of naira regionally—with Anambra alone reportedly forfeiting billions weekly in trade, taxes, and ...