Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has ordered the closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week after traders failed to comply with the state government’s directive to disregard the Monday sit-at-home order.
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The directive was issued on Monday during an on-site inspection of the market, accompanied by aides and government officials. Security agencies have sealed the market to enforce compliance, with the governor warning that the closure could be extended if traders continue to defy the order.
Describing the action as a decisive step in a protracted struggle over economic activity in the South-East on Mondays, Soludo said the repeated refusal of traders to open their stalls amounts to economic sabotage.
“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,” Soludo said.
He added, “The closure is a protective measure for law-abiding citizens. If the market fails to reopen after the one-week shutdown, it will be sealed for one month. You either decide that you are going to trade here or you go elsewhere. I am very serious about this.”
Security at the market was visibly tightened, with a joint task force comprising police, army, and other security agencies securing the perimeter.
The one-week closure underscores the broader challenge of ending the Monday sit-at-home and restoring normal commercial activity. When the market is scheduled to reopen next Monday, attention will focus on whether traders return to their stalls or continue the boycott, a decision that may determine the rhythm of economic life in Anambra State on Mondays.
@thenigerialawyer“Onitsha Main Market Closed For One Week” — Soludo Enforces Compliance With Monday Sit-at-Home Directive♬ original sound – TheNigeriaLawyer
In a related development, the Anambra State Government announced on Saturday that civil servants’ salaries will now be paid on a pro-rata basis starting February 2026, as part of measures to enforce Monday attendance.
The state Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, told journalists in Awka that the decision was taken during the end-of-tenure retreat of the Anambra State Executive Council, which reviewed the administration’s activities over its concluding four-year tenure and outlined priorities for the new term beginning March 17, 2026.
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