Soludo Shuts Onitsha Main Market Over Adherence to Monday Sit-at-Home
Governor Chukwuma Soludo has ordered the closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week over what he described as traders’ continued compliance with the Monday sit-at-home directive, despite the state government’s repeated calls for full resumption of commercial activities.
The governor issued the directive on Monday during an unscheduled inspection visit to the market, where he observed that a large number of shops remained locked and business activities were largely paralysed.
According to Soludo, the decision was taken to compel traders and market leadership to reopen fully and restore normal trading, warning that the shutdown would be extended to one month if the market fails to resume full operations by the following Monday.
Government’s Position
Soludo reiterated the state government’s stance that the sit-at-home order is not authorised by law and continues to inflict economic hardship on traders, transporters and residents across Anambra.
“The continuous closure of markets every Monday is hurting livelihoods and slowing economic growth in the state. Anambra must remain open for business,” the governor said during the visit.
Market Response
Some traders at the market expressed mixed reactions to the directive. While a section welcomed the move as a step toward restoring confidence and normalcy, others voiced concerns over security fears that have driven compliance with the sit-at-home in the first place.
Market leaders were reportedly instructed to mobilise traders to fully reopen and ensure compliance with the government’s order before the end of the one-week closure period.
Background
The Monday sit-at-home, initially introduced in the South-East as a protest action, has persisted in parts of Anambra and neighbouring states, often leading to reduced commercial activity and, in some cases, sporadic security incidents.
The Anambra State Government has consistently urged residents and businesses to ignore the directive and go about their normal activities, insisting that security agencies are in place to protect lives and property.
Looking Ahead
With the one-week deadline now in effect, attention will be on whether traders return in full next Monday or face a longer shutdown as warned by the governor. Stakeholders say the outcome could shape broader efforts to revive commercial confidence in one of the region’s busiest trading hubs.
Source: TheCable