Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has described as “delusional” the claim by some traders in the Onitsha Main Market that they do not open their shops on Mondays due to insecurity.
Soludo maintained that the sit-at-home order ended in Anambra State in 2023, calling the continued failure of most traders to open their shops on Mondays an act of economic sabotage.
“It could be said that since 2023, anybody saying he didn’t open the shop because of insecurity is just delusional.
“Go round some other places that are more insecure, and the markets are open. Onitsha, of all places, Main Market, with over 150 security personnel, and you are saying the reason you are not open is because of insecurity? Absolute nonsense,” he stated.
Soludo argued that if the same traders could go to the stadium on Mondays to play, exercise on the roads, or engage in street trading, they could just as well open their shops.
“But you are in the stadium playing, insecurity allows you to go to the stadium to play, allows you to be working out on the roads, allows street trading all over the place, the roads are blocked with street trading — but insecurity doesn’t allow you to open your shops at the Main Market,” the governor said.
Market Shutdown
On Monday, the governor ordered that the major South-East market be shut down for one week due to traders’ perceived compliance with the Monday sit-at-home order by non-state actors.
He also warned that if traders failed to open at the end of the one-week shutdown, the market would be closed for another week, and subsequently for longer periods.
During his broadcast on Wednesday, the governor reiterated his warning that the closure of the market could be extended if the sit-at-home continues.
According to him, Onitsha Main Market belongs to the state government, and the authorities reserve the right to determine how the market operates.
The governor also insisted that the market must be open six days a week and warned that the state government could revoke shop ownership for defaulting traders.
Traders Concerns
But fear has persisted among some traders about their safety.
Earlier on Wednesday, one of the traders, Gibson Okafor, stated that while the governor has provided security around the market, there is still inadequate security presence on the routes to the market on Mondays.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme, said that the combination of security concerns, failure of banks to open, and non-operation of transporters contributed significantly to traders’ inability to open shops on Mondays.
“The governor promised security, but only what he will do, because some people are coming from Nkpor, Asaba, and other areas. They need transporters to operate and security along the routes so traders can come to the market.
“If they don’t see security men and transporters, they can’t come to the market. Everything has to be in order so that traders would have the means to reach the market. The governor promised us that — that is what I heard from them — but we haven’t seen it,” Okafor said.
Sit-At-Home
Parts of Anambra State were paralysed for years every Monday by a sit-at-home order that emptied markets, schools, and offices, stifling economic and social activity.
Imposed by non-state actors across the South-East, the directive has faced sharp criticism for undermining livelihoods—forcing traders, transport operators, and students indoors, particularly in commercial hubs such as Onitsha.
Seeking to restore normalcy, Governor Chukwuma Soludo launched a determined campaign to end the shutdown.
In April 2022, he officially declared the sit-at-home over, introduced an amnesty programme for youths in hideouts, and announced the creation of a peace and reconciliation committee to promote lasting stability.
