Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has ordered the closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week following traders’ failure to comply with the state government’s directive to ignore the Monday sit-at-home order.
The directive was issued on Monday during an on-the-spot assessment of the market by the governor, accompanied by top government officials and security operatives. Soludo warned that the shutdown could be extended if traders continue to disregard the government’s order, adding that security agencies have sealed the market to ensure full enforcement.
According to the governor, the persistent closure of stalls on Mondays, despite assurances of improved security, amounts to economic sabotage and undermines efforts to restore normal commercial activities in the state.
“The government cannot stand by while a few individuals deliberately undermine public safety and flout official directives meant to restore normalcy. This is plain economic sabotage,” Soludo said. “The closure is a protective measure for law-abiding citizens.”
He further cautioned that failure to reopen the market after the one-week shutdown would result in a one-month closure, stressing that traders must choose between operating under the law or vacating the market.
Security around the market remained tight on Monday, with a joint task force comprising the police, army and other agencies deployed to secure the area.
The closure highlights the ongoing struggle by the Anambra State Government to end the recurring Monday sit-at-home, which has continued to disrupt economic activities across the South-East.
The state government had earlier directed workers and business owners to maintain normal activities on Mondays. It also announced plans to introduce pro-rata salary payments for civil servants, effective February 2026, with salaries tied to attendance on Mondays.
As the market awaits reopening next week, attention will be on whether traders will comply with the directive or risk further sanctions—an outcome that may significantly shape the pace of economic life in Anambra State.
Advertisement
