Soludo Wields Big Stick, Closes Onitsha Market Over Sit-at-Home Defiance

Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has taken a drastic enforcement step by ordering the immediate one-week shutdown of Onitsha Main Market, following the traders’ open defiance of the state’s directive to ignore the Monday sit-at-home order.

The governor issued the closure order on Monday during a surprise visit to the market, accompanied by top aides and security officials. He declared that the shutdown could be extended indefinitely if compliance is not achieved, labeling the traders’ refusal to open for business as “economic sabotage.”

“The government cannot stand by while a few individuals willfully undermine public safety and disregard official directives meant to restore normalcy,” Soludo stated. “This closure is a protective measure for law-abiding citizens and a clear signal that we are serious.”

He issued a stern ultimatum to the traders: “You either decide that you are going to trade here or you go elsewhere. I am very serious about this.”

The move marks the governor’s strongest enforcement action yet in the prolonged struggle to end the Monday sit-at-home practice across the South-East. Despite repeated government assurances of security, many traders again kept their shops locked, reflecting what observers describe as a “quiet rebellion” fueled by persistent fear.

A joint security task force, comprising police, army, and civil defense personnel, swiftly moved to seal the market gates following the governor’s announcement. The once-bustling commercial hub now stands under lock and key, with the standoff drawing statewide attention.

This crackdown coincides with the state’s newly announced policy to implement pro-rata salary deductions for civil servants who abstain from work on Mondays, effective February 2026. Together, the twin measures represent a mounting government offensive against the sit-at-home tradition.

All eyes are now on next Monday, when the market is scheduled to reopen. The traders’ response will not only determine the future of the iconic market but also signal whether Soludo’s “big stick” approach can reclaim Mondays for normal economic life in Anambra.