Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has ordered the closure of 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-site visit to the market by the governor, accompanied by aides and government officials. Governor Soludo warned that the closure could be extended if traders continue to defy the order, adding that security agencies have sealed the market to enforce compliance.
Describing the action as a decisive measure in a long-running effort to restore economic normalcy in the South-East, Soludo said the continued absence of traders at the iconic market amounted to a “quiet rebellion” fueled by fear, undermining public safety and economic activity.
“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 stated.
He issued a stern warning that if the market remains closed after the one-week shutdown, the government may extend the closure to one month. “You either decide that you are going to trade here or you go elsewhere. I am very serious about this,” the governor added.
Security enforcement at the market on Monday was intense, with a joint task force of police, army, and other agencies securing the perimeter to ensure compliance. The standoff highlights the ongoing struggle to abolish the Monday sit-at-home order in Onitsha.
When the market is scheduled to reopen next Monday, all eyes will be on the traders—whether they will return to their stalls or maintain the boycott. The outcome may shape not only the future of the market but also the rhythm of economic life in Anambra State on Mondays.
The state government had previously directed traders and businesses to operate normally on Mondays as part of broader efforts to restore economic stability and end disruptions caused by recurring sit-at-home observances.
In a related development, the state government plans to begin pro-rata salary payments for workers starting February 2026, aimed at discouraging Monday absenteeism. Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, disclosed that civil servants’ salaries would be adjusted based on attendance on Mondays, following decisions from the Anambra State Executive Council’s end-of-tenure retreat in Awka.
Elijah Adeyemi
