- Sit-at-Home: Anambra Closes Onitsha Main Market After Traders Ignore Gov’s Directive
- State officials warned that continued disruption of commercial activities could significantly affect revenue generation
- Traders cited fear of attacks by miscreants as the reason for low turnout
The Anambra State Government has ordered the closure of Onitsha Main Market for one week after traders failed to open for business on Monday, despite a directive by Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo to disregard the sit-at-home order linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Eko Hot Blog reports that the decision was announced on Monday amid growing concerns over the economic toll of recurring Monday shutdowns across the Southeast. State officials warned that continued disruption of commercial activities could significantly affect revenue generation and the implementation of the 2026 budget.
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A media aide to the governor, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, described the sit-at-home practice as a major threat to Anambra’s economy, saying the losses recorded every Monday amounted to “economic sabotage”.
“The position of the state government is clear and unambiguous. This is the height of economic sabotage. If you look at the humongous economic loss during each Monday sit-at-home, you will discover that it is a rip-off on the economy of the state and the business community,” Opara said.
He added that the market would reopen after one week but warned that stricter measures could follow if traders continued to defy government directives.
In a separate statement, the governor’s Press Secretary, Mr Christian Aburime, said the closure was necessitated by what he described as the refusal of market leadership to comply with official instructions to resume normal trading activities.
Governor Soludo, reacting to the development, said the state would not allow any individual or group to undermine public order or economic stability.
“The government cannot stand by while a few individuals wilfully undermine public safety and disregard official directives meant to restore normalcy. This is plain economic sabotage,” the governor said.
“You either decide that you are going to trade here or you go elsewhere. I am very serious about this,” he added, warning that prolonged non-compliance could lead to extended closures.
Security operatives, including police and military personnel, were deployed to enforce the shutdown, turning back traders who attempted to access the market.
While Onitsha Main Market remained sealed, reports indicated that other markets across the state, including Nkwo Nnewi, Eke Awka and Ekwulobia, opened at limited capacity. Traders cited fear of attacks by miscreants as the reason for low turnout.
The ongoing sit-at-home observance has raised wider concerns about its impact on public finances in the Southeast, where state governments have proposed combined budgets exceeding ₦5.7 trillion for 2026 and are banking on significant growth in internally generated revenue.
Legal and economic analysts have warned that continued Monday shutdowns could weaken business confidence and restrict mobility. A commercial lawyer, Declan Ibekwe, described the situation as damaging to both commerce and the justice system.
“I can’t imagine having a case to attend in Ebonyi State from my base in Abia State on a Monday and being unable to do so because of fear. This is the simplest way to kill the economy,” he said.
The Anambra State Government has also announced plans to introduce pro-rata salary payments for civil servants from February 2026 to discourage absenteeism on Mondays. Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, said workers who fail to report for duty would have their pay adjusted accordingly.
“The thing has to be done. Four years is enough. The economic loss of the sit-at-home runs into trillions since it started,” Mefor said.
IPOB, however, rejected the government’s position, insisting that the sit-at-home remains a voluntary and peaceful protest. The group’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, said no governor has the authority to compel citizens to open their businesses against their will.
As the closure takes effect, residents and traders remain divided over whether the government’s enforcement strategy will restore normal economic activity or further entrench resistance to official directives.
