Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has ordered the closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week following traders’ refusal to comply with the state government’s directive to ignore the Monday sit-at-home order.
Soludo issued the directive on Monday during an on-site inspection of the market, warning that the closure could be extended to one month if traders fail to resume operations after the shutdown.
Despite repeated assurances of improved security, the governor said many traders once again kept their shops closed, describing the action as economic sabotage.
“The government cannot stand by while a few individuals undermine public safety and disregard lawful directives,” Soludo said, adding that security agencies had sealed the market to enforce the order.
A joint task force comprising police, soldiers and other security agencies was deployed to secure the area as the market remained shut.
The shutdown underscores the ongoing struggle by the Anambra State Government to end the Monday sit-at-home practice, which has continued to disrupt economic activities across the South-East.
Meanwhile, the state government has announced plans to introduce pro-rata salary payments for civil servants from February 2026, linking pay to attendance on Mondays as part of efforts to restore normal economic activity.
