Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo on Monday, ordered the immediate closure of the popular Onitsha Main Market and all the adjoining markets.
Governor Soludo announced the closure of the market today, when he visited the market to monitor compliance with the state government’s directive for the abolition of the Monday sit-at-home.
The governor’s action follows repeated disregard to his directive against Sit-At-Home order by IPOB on Mondays for some years now.
Market associations’ leadership in the various markets in the state appear to have listened more to the faceless non-state actors instead of Soludo who had cautioned them stop the Sit-At-Home order or face the consequences.
The Monday sit-at-home order, which has disrupted economic, commercial, and social activities across the Southeast geopolitical zone at huge economic cost for years, was publicly condemned by the Soludo administration.
At the market, it was observed that almost all the shops in the market and the adjoining markets were locked up in compliance with the sit-at-home order that hitherto persisted in the state, due to threats from the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
Recall that the state government had introduced pro rata payment for civil servants effective February, 2026, as part of efforts to end the sit-at-home.
Addressing the traders, Soludo revealed that the closure of the Onitsha main market is for one week in the first instance, threatening to seal the market indefinitely if the need arises
He insisted that the government cannot stand by and watch while a few individuals willfully undermine public safety and disregard official directives meant to restore normalcy.
According to the governor, after the expiration of the directive, any shop found to be closed on Mondays, will be sealed up and the owners will be deemed to have ties with the enforcers of the order.
“We cannot continue to condone this irresponsibility.
“Anambra state is open to anybody who wants to come in and do legitimate business here. But, you must abide by the rules and laws that are in this state.
“I don’t mind shutting down this market for the remainder of the year.
“I just came to Awka and everywhere is open. But when we get to Onitsha, the once-reputed largest market in West Africa, everywhere is locked up. This can no longer go on in Anambra.
“If you don’t want to do business here again, I will bring a bulldozer and level this place.
“This is plain economic sabotage and we will deal with anyone who locks his shop on Mondays as a saboteur,” Soludo threatened.
Our correspondent can confirm that security personnel, including the police, army among others, were immediately deployed to seal the market gates and ensure full and immediate compliance.
