Sit-at-Home: Ogbaru Records High Turnout, Mayor Commends Traders

By Polycarp Ifeanyi

The Mayor of Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, Hon. Sir Kenneth Akwuobi, has expressed satisfaction with traders and park operators across the council area for opening their shops and motor parks on Monday in compliance with the state government’s directive.
Speaking to journalists shortly after an inspection tour of major markets and parks in Ogbaru, Akwuobi said he was impressed by the level of commercial activity, noting that turnout was higher than on previous Mondays.
“I am impressed with what I saw today. Traders came out in large numbers and went about their normal business activities. Loading and unloading of goods were ongoing in several parks I visited. This clearly shows compliance with the directive of the Anambra State Government,” he said.
The Anambra State Government had recently mandated that all markets and motor parks across the state resume full operations on Mondays, warning that any market or park that failed to comply would face closure.
Akwuobi commended market leaders and park owners in Ogbaru for adhering to the directive, describing their cooperation as a demonstration of leadership.
“Ogbaru is leading while others follow,” he stated.
The mayor also disclosed that the local government took proactive security measures to ensure a safe environment for traders and residents.
According to him, security personnel were deployed to strategic locations as early as 5:00 a.m. to boost public confidence.
“The first confidence we must give to traders is security. Acting on the directive of our principal, Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, we stationed security personnel at key points across the local government area to safeguard lives and property. I personally monitored the deployment to ensure effectiveness,” he said.
During the inspection tour, Akwuobi said he visited virtually all major markets in the area, including International Textiles Market (Ogbo-Abada), Ogbaru Electronics Market, Utensils Market (Ogbo-Efere), Coca-Cola Market, Relief Market (Ogbaru Main Market), and the Fruits and Vegetables Market, also known as the Perishable Goods Market.
To further demonstrate government support, the mayor purchased provisions at Ogbaru Main Market, spoons and forks at Ogbo-Efere Market, and fruits and groundnut oil at the Fruits and Vegetables Market.
“I was pleased to meet with the various market leaders. They are doing a commendable job, and I urge them to sustain the momentum, especially under the administration of our Solution Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo,” he added.
Security personnel were stationed at several strategic locations, including the Niger Bridge axis near Ogbo-Abada, Ogbaru Junction (popularly known as Uga Junction), Electronics Market, Utensils Market (Ogbo-Efere), Coca-Cola Market, the pedestrian bridge near Ogbaru Main Market, Onitsha–Owerri Road, and the Obodoukwu Road entrance, among other points.
The mayor began his inspection at about 9:00 a.m., engaging traders and assessing compliance across the council area.