By Vincent Ujumadu

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has expressed delight after encountering heavy traffic in the commercial city of Onitsha on Monday, describing it as a sign that the long-standing Monday sit-at-home has eased significantly.

The governor, who attended the Delta State Economic Summit in Asaba, apologised for arriving about 15 minutes late, explaining that he was delayed by traffic in Onitsha.

“Today is Monday, and experiencing traffic in Onitsha on a Monday can only mean one thing: the Monday sit-at-home is over,” Soludo said.

Earlier this year, the Anambra State Government reiterated that there was no official Monday sit-at-home order in the state and warned that traders and transport operators who shut their businesses on Mondays without lawful justification could face sanctions.

Speaking at the summit, Soludo said the improvement in commercial activities reflected the positive impact of his administration’s efforts to restore normal economic life across the state.

The governor also urged Nigerians to prioritise locally made products, arguing that doing so would stimulate economic growth, create jobs and support local industries.

“We cannot create the jobs we desire if we continue patronising foreign and imported goods,” he said.

Soludo said he had adopted Akwete fabric as his preferred attire after being introduced to it by his daughter in 2019, adding that the decision had helped improve the livelihoods of women weavers in the community.

He also referenced the recent announcement of a N2 billion donation to the Akwete community to expand production, noting that increased patronage of locally produced goods would further strengthen the economy.

“If all 247 million Nigerians wear only Made-in-Nigeria goods, more than 10 million jobs will be created. We cannot create the kind of jobs we want if we continue relying on imported products,” he said.

The governor called on Nigerians to support indigenous manufacturers by choosing locally made goods, saying such a shift would boost employment, increase incomes and drive sustainable economic development.