Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has ordered the Onitsha Main Market to be closed for one week after traders refused to ignore the Monday sit-at-home directive issued by the state government.
The governor made this announcement during a visit to the market on Monday, accompanied by his aides and other government officials.
He cautioned that the closure could be extended if traders continue to defy the order, noting that security agencies have sealed the market to ensure compliance.
Soludo described the move as the latest, and possibly most forceful action in an ongoing struggle over economic control in the South-East on Mondays.
He explained that despite repeated assurances of improved security and calls to reclaim public spaces, many traders at the renowned market again chose to keep their stalls shut.
According to the governor, their absence represented a silent act of rebellion, reflecting the persistent climate of fear in the area.
Soludo stated, “The government cannot stand by while a few individuals willfully undermine public safety and disregard official directives meant to restore normalcy. This is plain economic sabotage.
“We are not going to allow this. The closure is a protective measure for law-abiding citizens.”
He also issued a strict warning that if the market does not reopen after the one-week shutdown, it will be closed for a full month.
“You either decide that you are going to trade here or you go elsewhere. I am very serious about this,” the governor added.
On Monday, the market was heavily secured by a joint task force of police, army, and other security agencies, enforcing the closure.
With the gates remaining locked throughout the week, the standoff in Onitsha underscores the broader challenge of ending Monday sit-at-home observances.
When the market is scheduled to reopen next Monday, all eyes will be on whether traders return to their stalls or whether empty aisles persist.
The outcome will not only affect the market but could also influence economic activity across Anambra State on Mondays.
Previously, the state government had instructed traders and businesses to maintain normal operations on Mondays to restore stability and reduce disruptions caused by the recurring sit-at-home orders.
Meanwhile, it was reported that the state government would start pro-rata salary payments for civil servants as a step toward ending the Monday sit-at-home practice.
The state Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, told journalists in Awka that starting February 2026, workers’ salaries would reflect attendance on Mondays.
Mefor added that this decision emerged during the end-of-tenure retreat of the Anambra State Executive Council in Awka, which reviewed the administration’s achievements over the last four years and outlined priorities for the new term beginning on March 17, 2026.
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