A high-stakes confrontation is expected in Onitsha on Monday, February 2, 2026, as Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo and traders of the Onitsha Main Market prepare for the reopening of the commercial hub amid lingering tensions over compliance with government directives and sit-at-home protests.
The standoff stems from the state government’s closure of the Onitsha Main Market last week after traders repeatedly observed a Monday sit-at-home order linked to non-state actors, notably the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), despite government calls to resume business.
Governor Soludo had insisted that markets must open on Mondays to sustain economic activity in the state.
Soludo’s directive to shut the market for a week was intended as an enforcement measure to break the cycle of closures observed across the South-East and to assert state authority.
He warned that failure to reopen could lead to extended shutdown, including up to one month of closure, and other actions such as revocation of land allocations for persistent defiance.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Anambra State Government confirmed that the one-week closure has expired and directed all traders to resume full business operations on Monday.
The statement, signed by Commissioner for Information Dr Law Mefor, indicated there is no longer any sit-at-home on Mondays in the state, assuring traders and residents of adequate security deployment.
The government reiterated enforcement of the state’s pro-rata salary policy, under which civil servants and teachers who do not work on Mondays may not be paid. Parents were also advised to ensure children attend school on Mondays to avoid sanctions.
Security sources said government and security agencies finalised deployment plans during a weekend meeting, placing personnel and logistics in position for the Monday operations at the market and other key commercial locations.
Market leaders have engaged with the government in recent days. The Chairman of Onitsha Main Market, Chijioke Okpalaugo, publicly assured the governor that traders would comply with the reopening directive.
Traders have also sought a grace period to evacuate goods from informal structures ahead of any market reshaping or redevelopment exercise.
A prominent trader, Kezie Nwadiugwu, appealed to colleagues to open their shops on Monday: “Let us not play into the government’s hands by staying away today.
If we open and do business, he may shelve the demolition.” Traders fear demolition or redevelopment may lead to displacement or extended closures.
The unfolding situation in Onitsha highlights broader tensions between state authority, market stakeholders and non-state actors in the South-East.
Onitsha is a major commercial hub whose extended closure not only affects local livelihoods but has wide economic implications for supply chains and inter-state trade.
Analysts note that managing such confrontations requires careful balance between enforcing law and order and protecting economic activity and public safety.
As Onitsha Main Market prepares to reopen on Monday, the face-off between Governor Soludo and traders represents a defining moment in Anambra’s effort to end sit-at-home disruptions.
The coming hours will indicate whether the market returns to normal operations or if deeper political and social tensions influence business activity in the region.
