By Solomon Gwiyi, July 26, 2023
Reports have shown that Enugu State Government has sealed a total of two commercial banks and 107 shops in the past couple of days, for allegedly observing an “illegal sit-at-home order” on Monday in the state.
Governor Mbah had, in June, banned the Monday sit-at-home in the state, explaining that the civil action was killing the “spirit of entrepreneurship, commerce and creativity” of the Igbo people in the region.
The governor had, earlier this month, ordered all public servants and political office holders in the state to begin reporting to their places of work on Monday or face sanctions.
Following this development, the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, led by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chidiebere Onyia, sealed the premises of the affected businesses, who refused to obey government directive, on Monday.
Explaining the rationale behind the governor's action, Enugupress.ng reports that Mr. Onyia in a viral video which has been circulating on social media explained that the governor issued the order to seal the shops and banks to stop residents’ compliance to the sit-at-home order and to demonstrate the seriousness of the government to the ban placed on the illegal order in the state.
According to Professor Onyia: “It is not a punitive but ownership culture, where all of us (should) come together to fight the menace of illegal sit-at-home,” he said.
“We are taking it up not because Mbah is in the business of stopping economic growth but to fight those that think they can intimidate us.
“We have been to ShopRite, Celebrity- a shopping mall – SPAR, (a supermarket) and others. We saw shops that were not open, and we sealed them,” Mr Onyia stated.
Also speaking, Gideon Onyia, the head of the state development agency, said 78 shops were sealed at Ogbete Main Market, while two unnamed commercial banks were also sealed.
Mr. Gideon added that five shops at the SPAR and 24 shops at the Old Artisan Market in the state were equally sealed by the agency.
“So, if you failed to obey our rules and directives (of opening on Mondays), we can revoke them or withdraw your approvals and give them to people eager to do business in the state.
Recall that enugupress.ng had earlier earlier reported that the state government has released conditions for uncealing the facilities under government's key and lock, following their disobedience.
The conditions listed by the secretary of the state government which was contained in a public service announcement shared across social media platforms in Enugu include provision of current tax clearance certificate and other relevant revenue documents after one week for consideration.
The statement also quoted the Secretary of the state government as stating that the time for consideration of such exercise begins Friday 28 July 2023.
In the announcement, Prof. Onyia further directed that all affected shops owners were to be at the Enugu State Capital Development Authority (ECTDA) headquarters, by 2:00 PM with the required documents.
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