Anambra State Governor Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has reiterated that the Onitsha Main Market will remain closed for one week as ordered, following traders’ continued observance of “sit‑at‑home” closures on Mondays.

The governor made the statement during a press briefing in Awka on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.

The closure of Onitsha’s principal commercial hub followed repeated refusals by traders to reopen on Mondays despite government directives aimed at restoring normal economic activity across the state.

The practice of Monday sit‑at‑home has persisted in parts of the South‑East, prompting government action to enforce full weekly operations.

The one‑week shutdown was announced after Soludo’s inspection of the market, where many shops remained locked. He declared that enhanced security arrangements were in place, and that traders must comply with the state’s economic calendar or face further sanctions.

Governor Soludo described the continued market closures as economic sabotage and said his administration would not tolerate any action that undermines the state’s economy.

He noted that security conditions in the state have improved and that traders’ claims of insecurity as a reason for staying away were not valid.

Soludo stressed that more than 150 security personnel had been deployed to the Onitsha Main Market to ensure safety, and he dismissed insecurity concerns as a justification for the closures.

He pointed out that other parts of the state had resumed business on Mondays without incident.

The governor also warned that failure to reopen after the one‑week period could lead to a longer shutdown, including a one‑month closure, and indicated that the government reserved powers to revoke land allocations under the Land Use Act if traders continued to defy directives.

Soludo said: “The Monday sit‑at‑home is deliberate economic sabotage and would not be allowed to continue. Throughout the yuletide the market was open from Monday down to Saturday and in most cases opened on Sundays, too.”

He added: “For people who say the Monday decision is because of insecurity, why were there no incidences when traders opened all through the week?”

The enforcement of Monday trading and the shutdown of Onitsha Main Market underscore broader efforts by state governments to stabilise economic activity in key commercial centres.

Onitsha is one of Nigeria’s largest markets and plays a central role in trade across the South‑East and national supply chains. Prolonged closures could affect regional commerce and livelihoods if unresolved.

The government’s stance also reflects ongoing tensions between state authority and community observance of sit‑at‑home practices, a security and economic challenge across several states.

Governor Soludo has maintained that the Onitsha Main Market will remain closed for a week to enforce compliance with the state’s business directives.

His administration has warned of stricter penalties if traders do not reopen, framing the action as necessary to protect Anambra’s economic interests and uphold normal trade practices.