Governor threatens one-month closure for non-compliance
Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has ordered the immediate and indefinite closure of the Onitsha Main Market following the continued observance of the illegal “sit-at-home” order by traders.
During an unannounced visit to the commercial hub on Monday, January 26, 2026, the Governor expressed deep frustration after finding the gates of the massive market locked despite his standing directives for all businesses to remain open. Soludo warned that if the traders do not resume full operations immediately, the market will remain shut for at least one month.
The “sit-at-home” order, originally initiated by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has paralyzed economic activities in the South-East for years, despite the group’s repeated claims that the Monday directive has been cancelled. Governor Soludo has been at the forefront of the campaign to break the cycle of fear, arguing that the region is “committing economic suicide” by shutting down its own markets. He noted that the continued closure of Onitsha, the largest market in West Africa, is a direct affront to the authority of the state government.
According to the Governor, any market or shop that remains closed on Mondays on the pretext of security concerns will be sealed by the state’s task force. He insisted that the government has deployed adequate security personnel across the state to protect lives and property. “We cannot continue to be a people who are held hostage by unknown elements,” Soludo stated. He emphasized that the state’s “Renewed Hope” style economic blueprint requires a functional, 24/7 commercial environment to succeed.
Security agencies directed to enforce “No Work, No Market” policy
In a bid to enforce compliance, the Governor directed the Anambra State Vigilante Group (AVG) and the Nigeria Police Force to take over the market premises until further notice. He clarified that the market leadership will be held personally responsible for the failure to mobilize traders for Monday business. Soludo also threatened to dissolve the market management committees of any commercial center that fails to comply with the state’s directive by next week.
The Governor’s move has sparked a “war of nerves” between the state administration and the traders, many of whom claim they stay at home out of fear of violent attacks by armed enforcers of the sit-at-home. While the Governor promises security, many traders argue that the security presence is often concentrated in urban centers, leaving them vulnerable on their transit routes. However, Soludo dismissed these fears as “excuses,” stating that the state is currently safer than it has been in years.
The Anambra State Commissioner for Markets has been tasked with conducting a “roll call” of all shops in the Onitsha axis to identify those consistently absent on Mondays. The government warned that the shop licenses of such individuals could be revoked and reassigned to those willing to contribute to the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR). The “No Work, No Market” policy is seen as a drastic measure to reclaim the state’s economy from non-state actors.
Economic impact of Monday closures reaches critical levels
Financial analysts have estimated that Anambra State loses billions of naira every Monday due to the total shutdown of its major markets in Onitsha, Nnewi, and Ekwulobia. The Governor highlighted that while other regions of Nigeria are working and producing, the South-East is losing its competitive edge and driving investors away. He argued that the “sit-at-home” phenomenon is the greatest threat to the “Light of the Nation” status of Anambra.
| Area Council/Market | Current Compliance Status |
| Onitsha Main Market | Closed (Sealed by Government) |
| Nnewi Auto Parts | Partially Open |
| Ekwulobia Central | Fully Closed |
| Awka Markets | 60% Compliance with Government |
As January 2026 draws to a close, the tension in Onitsha remains high as traders wait to see if the Governor will follow through on his one-month closure threat. Some community leaders have called for a “middle-ground” approach, suggesting that the government should focus on providing visible security along the highways rather than punishing the traders. For now, the gates of the Onitsha Main Market remain under lock and key, and the “silence” of the stalls serves as a stark reminder of the region’s complex security and economic crisis.
