Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has ordered the immediate closure of the Onitsha Main Market and adjoining markets for one week, following persistent non-compliance with the state government’s directive against the Monday sit-at-home order.
The governor issued the directive on Monday while addressing traders at the market, warning that the closure would be extended if traders failed to resume full business activities at the end of the initial one-week period. He stressed that further defiance could attract longer shutdowns.
Soludo declared that the government would conduct inspections every Monday to ensure compliance, adding that any shop found closed would face sanctions, including an additional one-week lock-up.
According to the governor, the continued observance of the sit-at-home order amounts to economic sabotage and poses a threat to public safety. He noted that while government offices and markets across the state remain open on Mondays, the situation at the Onitsha Main Market was unacceptable.
He lamented that the prolonged practice, imposed by non-state actors, had severely disrupted economic and social activities in the South-East, particularly in commercial centres such as Onitsha. Soludo maintained that the state could no longer tolerate actions that undermine its authority and economic stability.
The governor emphasised that traders must decide whether they wish to operate within the framework of the law, warning that government would not hesitate to take decisive action to restore normalcy and protect law-abiding citizens.
Following the governor’s directive, security operatives, including personnel of the police and the Nigerian Army, were deployed to seal the market gates and ensure strict compliance with the closure order.
The Monday sit-at-home, which has persisted in parts of Anambra State for nearly four years, has been widely criticised for crippling commerce, disrupting education, and restricting movement. The Soludo administration has repeatedly condemned the practice, urging residents to go about their lawful activities without fear.
In April 2022, Governor Soludo formally declared an end to the sit-at-home order in Anambra State, announced amnesty for youths in hiding, and inaugurated a peace and reconciliation initiative. While the practice has reportedly declined, some residents and traders have continued to observe it out of caution.
The state government has reaffirmed its commitment to ending the illegal shutdowns and restoring confidence in public safety and economic activities across Anambra State.
