As security agencies continue to enforce the closure of the Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State, traders have voiced varying reactions, with many expressing displeasure over the government’s handling of the situation.
Several traders questioned the justification for the shutdown, arguing that numerous business owners had travelled to major markets within Nigeria and overseas to restock goods and were prepared to resume sales after the yuletide break.
Others warned that the action would worsen economic hardship, noting that many traders rely on daily turnover to meet basic living needs.
However, a different group of traders defended Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s decision, stressing that adherence to an order issued by a legitimate authority of the state should take precedence over compliance with directives from unidentified actors. Some of them appealed to the governor to sustain the same level of security next Monday, expressing readiness to reopen their shops under adequate protection.
By early Tuesday, a strong security deployment had taken over the market area, with operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Department of State Services positioned to seal entry points and block access to trading areas. Additional security personnel were stationed at strategic locations to turn back traders attempting to gain entry.
Commenting on the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, explained that the heavy security presence was aimed at maintaining law and order in line with the state government’s directive.
He called on traders to comply fully with the closure, stressing that the measures were taken in the interest of public safety, security, and economic stability. Ikenga added that security agencies would ensure that Onitsha and other parts of Anambra State remain calm and under control.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo ordered the market’s closure after an unscheduled visit on Monday revealed that the majority of traders had failed to open their shops, despite the state government’s directive against the sit-at-home order imposed by non-state actors.
The Anambra State Government has reiterated that Mondays are officially recognised as normal working days and warned that defiance of this policy would attract more severe penalties.
According to the Commissioner for Information, Law Mefoh, available data indicates that Anambra State loses an average of ₦8 billion each Monday the Onitsha Main Market remains shut.
What you should know
The closure of Onitsha Main Market reflects the Anambra State Government’s broader effort to dismantle the lingering sit-at-home culture that has disrupted economic activity across the South-East.
While authorities insist the policy is necessary to restore normalcy and protect the economy, traders remain divided between fear-driven compliance and concerns over lost income.
With estimated losses running into billions of naira weekly, the outcome of this standoff could shape future enforcement strategies and determine whether sustained security presence will convince traders to resume business on Mondays.
