By Nwabueze Okonkwo
ONITSHA – Kudos and knocks are now trailing Mondays closure of the popular Onitsha Main Market by Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra state in anger to continuous observance of sit-at-home order by traders in Anambra state.
Although market leaders had adopted the tactics of opening entrance gate leading into all the major markets in the state but traders do not show up in their shop for fear of being attacked by unknown gunmen.
Their fears we’re heightened sometime last year or even getting to two years now when the Chairman of Mgbuka Amazu Old Motor Spare Parts Dealers Association along Onitsha/Owerri Road in Onitsha was abducted inside the market on a broadbday light on one of the Monday for opening the market for trading, instead of obeying the sit-at-home order.
His abduction without his release till had drnt some shivers down the spines of all the traders in the state, to the extent that they see going to market on Mondays as equivalent of committing suicide.
Sometimes, when some of the traders summon the courage to open their shops, the unknown gunmen would suddenly surface from no where, fire warning shots and breeze past, thus leaving the traders to forcibly close their shops and scamper for safety.
Governor Soludo had on several occasions, warned both the traders, civil servants and schools to resume work and businesses on Monday as ordinary day or else they would be sanctioned and in order to escape his hammer, market leaders would go to their respective markets on Mondays, open the market gstes, stay around but traders would rely on an excuse that tafterall fear does not allow their customers do not come to the market on that day to patronize them and observe the sit-at-home.
But last Monday, Soludo wielded his sledge hammer in a strong move to enforce the abolition of the long-standing Monday “sit-at-home” order in the state when he directed the immediate closure of the iconic Onitsha Main Market for one full week.
The Governor’s action came as a result of his unscheduled physical visit to the market where traders at the bustling market 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.
In a press statement issued to that effect, by his Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, recalled that the sit-at-home practice, originally linked to security concerns and separatist agitations in the Southeast, has been officially abolished by the Anambra State Government as part of broader efforts to restore normalcy, boost economic activities and improve security architecture.
Acvording to the press statement, “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”.
The statemebt read in part: “This closure is expected to remain in effect for seven days, during which trading activities will be suspended. The Government has emphasized 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”, the statement added.
But in their separate reactions, the Ogilisi Igbo, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka; the Presidentt-General of Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, ASMATA, Chief Humphrey Anuna and Patron of ASMATA, Chief Jude Nwankwo who is also the President of Building Materials International Market, Ogidi, bared their minds on Soludo’s action.
In a telephone char, Ezeonwuka maintained that the sit-at-home would have been allowed to feasle out by itself as it is gradually doing, without necessarily forcing it to a stop, adding that it was zombie that entered into our youths and misleading them.
Accorcing to Ezeonwuka, idleness, joblessness, pocketlessness and lack of employment opportunities are dealing deadly blows to our youths.
Anuna, in his own reaction, said it is good for traders to start coming to markets on Mondays because according to him closing their shops on weekends up till Mondays has a very big economic loss to themselves and to the state.
Nwankwo pleased with Soludo to tamper Justice with mercy because according to him, this January is a period payment of school fees, house rents and so many other expenses and as such it would not augur well for a whole Main Market to be closed for business for an upwsrd of one week.
Citing an example of the abducted market leader that has not yet returned since then, those who pleaded anonymity, jeered Soludo for the closure as accorcing to them, he has adequate security for himself with a long list of soldiers, policemen, DSS, Civil Defence, Udo Ga Achi vigilante operatives and all what not but the gullible traders do not have anything to protect themselves from shackles of the unknown gunmen.