Awka, Anambra State
Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has condemned the continued closure of shops at the Onitsha Main Market on Mondays, describing the practice as “deliberate economic sabotage”. He insisted that the sit-at-home order, often cited by traders, officially ended in the state in 2023.
The governor made the remarks on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, during a press briefing in Awka, following his decision to shut down the market for one week after traders again failed to open for business.
“I want to say clearly that the Monday sit-at-home is deliberate economic sabotage and it will not be allowed to continue,” Soludo said. “If it comes to revoking shop ownership or even taking possession of the market, we will do what is necessary to put things right.”
Some traders have claimed that insecurity in the area is the reason for staying away on Mondays. The governor rejected this explanation as “delusional,” noting that markets and public spaces operated normally during the 2025 yuletide period without incident.
“If insecurity was the issue, why were there no problems when traders opened from Monday to Saturday and even on Sundays during the festive season?” he asked.
Soludo further challenged the narrative by highlighting that residents freely attend meetings, exercise at stadiums, and engage in street trading on Mondays, questioning why only the main market remains closed.
“People go to the stadium, exercise on the roads, and move around freely on Mondays, but insecurity suddenly becomes a problem only for Onitsha Main Market,” he said. “Onitsha Main Market, with over 150 security personnel, and you are saying the reason you are not open is insecurity? That is absolute nonsense.”
The governor’s warning comes after January 26, 2025, when he ordered the immediate closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week following a personal inspection that revealed traders had again stayed away from work.
According to Soludo, the action is part of a renewed effort to reassert government authority over economic activities in the South-East, where sit-at-home actions have frequently disrupted business and livelihoods.
“The sit-at-home practice has long threatened the region’s economy,” he said. “We will no longer tolerate actions that cripple commerce and daily life. The government is prepared to take decisive steps to ensure that markets operate normally.”
Onitsha Main Market, one of West Africa’s largest commercial hubs, is critical to Anambra’s economy and the wider South-East region. Analysts note that repeated sit-at-home directives significantly reduce daily trade volumes, affect supply chains, and undermine investor confidence.
“Every Monday that the market stays closed is a loss not just to traders, but to the regional economy,” said Dr. Nkem Okafor, an economist in Awka. “Soludo’s intervention signals that the government is serious about protecting economic activity and enforcing the rule of law in commercial centres.”
The governor’s ultimatum—revocation of shop ownership or government takeover of the market—marks one of the most forceful government stances against sit-at-home practices in recent years.
With over 150 security personnel stationed at the Onitsha Main Market, the government is now prepared to enforce compliance strictly. Soludo’s message is clear: business must resume, and economic sabotage will not be tolerated.
As the week-long closure unfolds, traders and market associations are expected to respond. Observers say that how the situation is handled will set a precedent for other commercial hubs in the South-East, potentially reshaping the relationship between government authority and market operations. For residents and business stakeholders, the broader question remains: can economic activities in Onitsha and other commercial centres in Anambra State proceed without interruption, or will sit-at-home orders continue to dictate the