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From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
In a strong move to enforce the abolition of the long-standing Monday “sit-at-home” protests in Anambra State, Governor Chukwuma Soludo has directed the immediate closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one full week.
The governor’s action followed his unscheduled physical visit to the market, where traders at the bustling commercial hub failed to open for business on Monday, January 26, 2026, in defiance of repeated state government directives mandating full resumption of commercial activities every Monday.
The sit-at-home practice, originally linked to security concerns and separatist agitations in the South East, has been officially abolished by the Anambra State Government as part of broader efforts to restore normalcy, boost economic activity and improve security.
Governor Soludo, who has consistently warned that non-compliant markets, shops or plazas would face sealing for one week (and potentially longer for repeated violations), invoked this penalty following the apparent non-compliance at Onitsha Main Market — one of Nigeria’s largest and most economically vital commercial hubs.
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A statement by the governor’s Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, said the closure is expected to remain in effect for seven days, during which trading activities will be suspended.
He said government has emphasised that the measure aims to send a strong message against any lingering adherence to the sit-at-home order, which has previously crippled commerce across parts of the region.
The state government has also reiterated its commitment to ensuring Mondays are fully operational business days statewide, with similar warnings issued to other markets, schools and civil servants (including salary deductions for non-compliance).
This development comes amid ongoing efforts by the Soludo administration to end the sit-at-home phenomenon, which has seen varying levels of observance despite the vastly improved security in the state.
