Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has declared that there will be no reversal of the decision to shut down the Onitsha Main Market, warning traders not to push his administration to the point of demolishing the market if defiance continues.
Speaking during a press briefing, Soludo described the continued refusal of traders to open their shops on Mondays as deliberate economic sabotage, insisting that the practice would no longer be tolerated in the state. He argued that the sit-at-home action was unjustified, noting that the market operated freely throughout the yuletide period without any security incidents.
The governor dismissed claims that insecurity was responsible for the shutdown, pointing out that traders still attend meetings, exercise at stadiums, and move freely on Mondays. According to him, the selective closure of the Onitsha Main Market suggests a calculated attempt to cripple the state’s economy rather than genuine security concerns.
Soludo traced the origin of the Monday sit-at-home to the 2021 agitation following the arrest of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, revealing that Kanu himself had expressed displeasure with the action during a prison visit. He said the state had since engaged stakeholders, implemented the recommendations of a peace committee, and rehabilitated thousands of youths through an amnesty programme.
Emphasising the economic cost, the governor said Anambra cannot afford to operate a four-day economy while competing with states running full business weeks. He warned that the shutdown harms poor traders most and undermines education, productivity, and long-term development.
Soludo further alleged that certain politicians were sponsoring the sit-at-home to score political points, vowing that such efforts would fail. He insisted that 2026 would be the year his administration decisively ends the practice, stressing that Anambra is now among the safest states in the country.
The governor warned that traders who fail to comply risk losing ownership of their shops, revealing plans to begin recertification within weeks. He maintained that the law empowers the government to revoke and repurpose the market if necessary, adding that those unwilling to open their shops should step aside for others ready to do business.
