War On Sit-At-Home: All Sealed Shops, Businesses In Enugu Remain Closed For One Week, Says Governor Mbah

Governor Peter Mbah-led administration in Enugu State has said that all the shops and malls sealed by the government for noncompliance with the ban on sit-at-home protests in the state would remain closed for one week.

Inside Port Harcourt reported on Monday that the state government declared war on residents and private businesses that failed to open for business on Monday.

It was reported that Governor Mbah ordered the closure of several shops and malls on Monday, accusing them of observing the illegal sit-at-home exercise called for by a separatist living in Finland, Simon Ekpa. 

The sit-at-home protest is intended to protest against the incarceration of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, who has been detained by Nigeria’s secret police, Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021.

Justifying the sealing of private businesses, Governor Mbah in a statement issued on Tuesday, which was signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said that owners of businesses sealed must provide their current tax clearance certificates and all other relevant revenue documents within a week to enable the state government to review and consider their formal letters for re-opening otherwise they would be auctioned off or permanently forfeited to the state government.

Mbah in the statement said, “In previous announcements to the good people and residents of Enugu State, the government had directed business and shop owners to open for normal businesses on Monday and every work day, or have the defaulting business premises and shops sealed. That was exactly what the government did on Monday, July 24, 2023, to enforce its earlier directives.

“All businesses that were sealed shall remain sealed for one week, at the end of which they shall provide their current tax clearance certificates and all other relevant revenue documents to enable the state government to review and consider their formal letters for re-opening.

“Again, all considerations start from Friday, July 28, 2023, at 2.00 pm at the Enugu State Capital Development Authority (ECTDA) headquarters.” 

“Please be guided accordingly,” he stated.