There was palpable tension at the Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State on Tuesday morning as Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s directive ordering the one-week closure of the market took effect over traders’ continued observance of the Monday sit-at-home.
Hundreds of security personnel drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) were deployed to the commercial hub. They barricaded major entrances to the market and prevented traders from accessing their shops.
Videos circulating online showed heavily armed operatives stationed at strategic points around the market, turning back traders who attempted to gain entry. Many traders openly expressed anger at the development, accusing the governor of punishing innocent business owners.
“You cannot tell me when to open my shop or not,” one trader said. “Some people travelled to Lagos and even overseas to buy goods. Why should everyone be punished for going to source products for their businesses?”
Another trader questioned the effectiveness of the enforcement, arguing that the sit-at-home problem was beyond the control of the state government.
“The issue of Monday sit-at-home is bigger than Governor Soludo,” he said. “Some people now use Mondays to rest after a long business week. In fact, sit-at-home has become a blessing in disguise because Sundays are already packed with church and family activities.”
The trader also alleged political motives behind the clampdown, accusing some South-East leaders of aligning with the Federal Government against separatist interests.
Governor Soludo had on Monday ordered the immediate closure of the iconic market for one week after an unscheduled visit revealed that a majority of traders failed to open for business on Monday, January 26, 2026, despite repeated government directives.
The sit-at-home practice, originally linked to separatist agitations and demands for the release of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been officially abolished by the Anambra State Government in a bid to restore economic activities.
During the visit, the governor reportedly described the continued closure of markets on Mondays as a deliberate sabotage of the state’s economy and warned of stiff penalties for defaulters.
“Any market, shop or plaza that refuses to open on Mondays will be shut for one week, and repeated violations will attract stiffer sanctions,” Soludo was quoted as saying.
The state government has reiterated that Mondays are now normal working days and that all commercial activities must resume fully. A senior government official said the closure of Onitsha Main Market was meant to send a strong message.
“This is not about witch-hunting anyone. It is about enforcing the law and ensuring our economy functions optimally,” the official said. “Anambra cannot continue to lose billions of naira every Monday.”
The government also warned that civil servants, schools and other institutions that fail to comply with the directive could face sanctions, including salary deductions and administrative penalties.
Meanwhile, many traders fear the shutdown will worsen their already fragile economic situation.
“We are suffering already,” a female trader lamented. “One week of closure means no income, no food, no school fees. Government should find a better way to solve this problem.”
As security operatives continue to maintain a tight grip around the market, uncertainty hangs over Africa’s largest open-air market, while debate persists over the sit-at-home practice, insecurity and political grievances in the South-East.
