Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has directed the immediate closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week after traders failed to comply with the state government’s instruction to ignore the Monday sit-at-home order.
The directive was issued on Monday when the governor visited the market in person, accompanied by senior aides and other government officials.
Soludo warned that the shutdown could be extended if traders continue to defy the directive, noting that security agencies have already sealed the market to enforce compliance.
He described the move as the latest and most decisive step in a long-running contest over the control of economic activities in the South-East on Mondays.
According to the governor, despite repeated assurances of improved security and continuous appeals for residents to reclaim public and commercial spaces, many traders once again kept their shops shut at the popular market.
He said the widespread absence of traders amounted to a silent protest that reflected the persistent atmosphere of fear affecting economic life in the region.
“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,” Soludo said.
The governor further cautioned that if the market fails to resume operations after the one-week closure, it would be shut for a full month.
“You either decide that you are going to trade here or you go elsewhere. I am very serious about this,” he added.
On Monday, the market environment reflected strict enforcement, with a joint task force made up of the police, the army, and other security agencies stationed around the area to secure the premises.
As the market remains locked throughout the week, the situation in Onitsha underscores the wider struggle to completely end the Monday sit-at-home practice.
When the market is expected to reopen next Monday, attention will be on whether traders return to their stalls in response to the government’s action or whether continued closures will send a different signal.
The outcome could shape not only the future of the Onitsha Main Market but also the pace and pattern of economic activities across Anambra State on Mondays.
The state government had earlier instructed traders and business owners to maintain full operations on Mondays as part of efforts to stabilise the economy and halt disruptions caused by recurring sit-at-home observances.
Meanwhile, the Anambra State Government would introduce pro-rata salary payments for workers as part of measures to end the sit-at-home culture.
The Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, disclosed in Awka that beginning from February 2026, civil servants’ salaries would be tied to attendance on Mondays.
He explained that the decision was taken during the end-of-tenure retreat of the Anambra State Executive Council held in Awka, where the administration reviewed its performance over the past four years and mapped out priorities for the new term starting on March 17, 2026.
What you should know
The closure of Onitsha Main Market reflects the Anambra State Government’s renewed push to permanently end the Monday sit-at-home practice, which has significantly disrupted commerce for years.
Despite official assurances of improved security, many traders still avoid opening their shops due to fear.
By sealing the market and introducing salary deductions tied to Monday attendance, the Soludo administration is escalating enforcement measures aimed at restoring normal economic activity and public confidence ahead of its new tenure.
