Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has ordered the immediate closure of Onitsha Main Market for one week. This decisive action follows the traders’ refusal to open for business on Monday, defying the state’s order to ignore the sit-at-home directive.
Governor Soludo announced the shutdown during a surprise visit to the market on Monday, accompanied by top government officials. He warned that the closure could be extended if compliance fails, revealing that security agencies have already sealed the market gates.
The governor framed the traders’ absence as a dangerous defiance that undermines public safety and the state’s economy. He described the action as “plain economic sabotage.”
“The government cannot stand by while a few individuals willfully undermine public safety and disregard official directives meant to restore normalcy,” Soludo stated. “We are not going to allow this. The closure is a protective measure for law-abiding citizens.”
He issued a stern ultimatum, warning that if the market fails to reopen fully after the one-week shutdown, it will be sealed for an entire month. “You either decide that you are going to trade here or you go elsewhere. I am very serious about this,” the governor added.
The market vicinity was heavily secured by a joint task force of police, army, and other security personnel, underscoring the tense atmosphere.
This clash highlights the ongoing struggle to end the Monday sit-at-home practice in the South-East. The Anambra government has repeatedly urged businesses to operate normally on Mondays to restore economic stability.
In a related move, the state government announced it will begin deducting the salaries of civil servants who do not report for duty on Mondays. State Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, confirmed that starting February 2026, workers will receive pro-rata pay based on their Monday attendance.
