Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has ordered the immediate closure of Onitsha Main Market over the continued observance of the illegal Monday sit-at-home directive.
Nigerian Newssphere gathered that the shutdown, which took effect on Monday, will last for one week as a sanction against traders’ persistent compliance with the sit-at-home order, despite repeated warnings from the state government.
The decision follows weeks of appeals by the government urging traders, market leaders and residents to ignore the directive, which officials insist has no legal backing and has continued to cripple economic activities across the state.
Government sources disclosed that while the closure is initially for one week, it could be extended to one month if the market fails to fully reopen by next Monday. Authorities warned that such an extension would have serious economic implications for traders and supply chains within the South-East and beyond.
“This is no longer about acting out of fear or coercion. It is about restoring law, order and economic sanity in Anambra State,” a senior government official said.
Onitsha Main Market, regarded as Nigeria’s largest commercial hub, serves as a major economic lifeline for millions of traders and consumers nationwide.
The state government maintained that the continued sit-at-home observance undermines security efforts, emboldens criminal elements and portrays Anambra as unsafe for business and investment.
It also issued a stern warning to market unions, transport operators and individuals allegedly enforcing or promoting the sit-at-home order, stressing that anyone found aiding or abetting the practice would face legal and regulatory sanctions.
Security agencies have reportedly been placed on alert to enforce compliance and protect traders willing to open their shops.
While some traders welcomed the government’s hardline approach, describing it as overdue, others expressed fear and uncertainty, citing lingering security concerns and past incidents linked to defiance of sit-at-home orders.
The Anambra State Government, however, reassured residents that adequate security measures are being put in place to safeguard lives and property, urging traders to cooperate in the collective interest of economic stability.
As next Monday approaches, attention remains firmly on Onitsha Main Market, where the decision to reopen could significantly shape Anambra’s economic outlook in the coming weeks.
