Enugu roads deserted, schools and businesses closed despite sit-at-home ban

Despite Governor Peter Mbah's ban on sitting at home illegally on Mondays in Enugu State, the main streets and highways are completely deserted.

The PUNCH can authoritatively report that Monday's house-to-house protest against the continued detention of the leader of the indigenous people of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, which had since begun to falter, has now been strengthened following the ban of the state government on the sit-at-home.

The PUNCH had reported that Governor Mbah had banned Monday sitting at home in the state last week. Therefore, on Saturday, he issued threats of closing schools, markets and transport units, as well as businesses that did not open their commercial and academic activities on Monday, June 5, 2023 and thereafter. .

Despite the threats, our correspondent, who has been monitoring compliance, reports that people have instead reinforced the sit-at-home by deserting main streets and roads.

Although there was a presence of security guards in various strategic locations. Also, surveillance planes hovered around the state capitol and some major hotspots in the past, but people still deserted the roads.

During a visit to Holy Ghost, Old Park, Garrik, Emene, Eke-Obinagu, Abakpa and Zik Avenue, it was observed that the roads were completely deserted as of 7:30 am on Monday morning.

Schools in the city center and on the outskirts of the state capital have been closed, while gas stations have also been closed. In the Holy Spirit area, all transport companies have been completely closed. In Old Orie Emene, commuters Abakpa and Garrik deserted the roads.

However, as expected, there were few bus and tricycle operators on the road, especially on the New Haven and Ogui roads, but no passengers to carry. Some private vehicles have also been spotted on the road, especially those going to hospitals or hospital staff.

Some people who spoke to our correspondent accused the governor of bringing people back to the situation they had begun to forget.

Mr. Chinedu Okechi said: 'You see the governor's open ban and subsequent threats to close markets, parks and schools which reinforced Monday at home. People are seeing it now because there is a breakdown or it has been planted in the state by outside forces to do their bidding.

“He has just exhibited his ignorance on the sit-at-home. Today, Peter Mbah remembered MNK (Mazi Nnamdi Kanu) only because there are sit-at-homes! "

However, at 11:00 a.m., some people started going out after news broke that Governor Mbah was moving to monitor compliance with his directives.

In a statement released after the surveillance, the governor's media team quoted Mbah as praising officials, carriers, business community and other state institutions for the significant compliance with the directive government ending Monday's sit-at. home order.

According to the release, the governor has set the compliance level at approximately 70%, while expressing hope for full compliance by the following Mondays.

Governor Mbah, while overseeing government ministries, departments and agencies and markets, reiterated his government's determination to protect lives and property.

"Ministries and offices visited included the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Capital Territory, the Ministry of Inter-Ministerial Affairs and Special Functions, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Lands, Ministry of Finance, Office of the Accountant General, Office of the Head of Department, Office of the Surveyor General, among others, where he was received by officials and heads of MDA.

"Mbah also visited several markets, including the Akwata section of Ogbete Market, the Mayor's Market along Agbani Road, among others, where he was warmly welcomed by happy traders and their leaders. "

The governor also reportedly said, "The main purpose of my visits is largely to observe the level of compliance with the directive we gave last week stating that we no longer have a sit-at. -home to Enugu now.The directive was to ensure that our employees are out on the first working and productive day of the week.

“We have a compliance level of approximately 60-70%, and the order took effect as of today. not all workers have been informed that we no longer have sit-at-homes on Mondays.

“Whether or not we succeed in ending the sit-at-home, we do it together as the Enugu people. If we are successful, our collective success means we can stand up against bullying together. It is not the success of anyone or the government. We must collectively take responsibility for our decision.

"But the truth is that everything we promised our people in Enugu is anchored on getting the flow of private sector investment into our state; and the private sector can...