Partial financial and business actions have been recorded in main cities of Anambra State on Monday as banks, markets, motor parks, enterprise centres, petrol stations and public premises remained shut over the Monday sit-at-home.
It was gathered that the foremost markets, motor parks and different public locations have been devoid of the massive inflow of human and vehicular actions recorded previously few days because of the Yuletide, because the markets and motor parks have been beneath lock and key.
The Second Niger Main and main roads throughout the state had scanty motion, as residents remained indoors, police operatives have been seen deployed at strategic locations on the River Niger head bridge whereas some operatives have been additionally seen patrolling main streets with a purpose to keep away from any breakdown of regulation and order.
There was apprehension by travellers coming into the South-East over their security ought to they embark on their journey on Monday, however the presence of policemen on the River Niger bridge doused each stress as they ensured free and protected motion of automobiles alongside the corridors.
Our correspondent who went across the main cities of Onitsha, Nnewi, Ekwulobia and a few components of Awka, gathered that most individuals stayed indoors and didn’t go for Christmas procuring because of the sit-at-home.
Most residents expressed fear over their lack of ability to make transactions on the banks’ Automated Teller Machines, forward of Christmas Eve on Tuesday, lamenting that because of the event, PoS operators have been exploiting the state of affairs.
A resident of Onitsha and a businessman on the Onitsha Predominant Market (names withheld) whereas narrating his ordeal mentioned, “Though a few of us got here to the market at the moment, there isn’t a a lot gross sales as prospects didn’t come as a result of sit-at-home. It affected full actions on the market and likewise affected our earnings.
“This has affected me within the sense that I shall be travelling with my relations to my hometown tomorrow, Tuesday, December 24, forward of Christmas and at the moment’s sit-at-home has prevented us from making gross sales. There’s no a lot exercise appropriately and tomorrow is the eve of Christmas.
“Furthermore, the market management has introduced the closure of markets from Tuesday, December 24 until Saturday, December 27. You’ll be able to see that at the moment’s sit-at-home has affected a few of us who wanted to make gross sales and have cash to spend this Christmas.”
One other resident, Nkechi Okonkwo, mentioned, “I shall be travelling for Christmas with my household tomorrow and at the moment, I got down to do some procuring, however I couldn’t purchase the issues I wanted available in the market as most individuals didn’t open their store at the moment. I additionally learnt that they’ve introduced a closure of markets from tomorrow. Right this moment’s sit-at-home has actually affected us.”
Talking on the event, the state police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, assured residents of their security as they go about their regular enterprise, saying the command has deployed operatives at strategic locations.
“The Anambra State Police Command stays dedicated to fostering a safe and peaceable setting in collaboration with different safety stakeholders.
“To this finish, operatives have been deployed at strategic locations to forestall any breakdown of regulation and order,” Ikenga added.
In the meantime, based on a round obtained by our correspondent from the market on Monday, the management of markets within the state has introduced the closure of main markets.
The round signed by the President Basic, Anambra State Market Amalgamated Merchants Affiliation, Chief Humphrey Anuna, indicated that markets shall be closed from Tuesday, December 24 and reopened once more on Friday, December 27 after which shut once more on December 31 to reopen once more on January 6, 2025.