Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has ordered the closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week over failure of traders to stop observing sit-at-home on Mondays.
Justifying his action, Soludo, in a statement posted on his X handle on Monday, January 26, described the persisting Monday sit-at-home as “economic sabotage.”
The governor, who vowed his determination to protect the economic interests of the state and its people, urged all traders and market stakeholders to disregard calls to continue observing sit-at-home on Mondays and resume business as usual.
He warned that going forward, the order would be applied to any other market in the state that fails to open on Mondays.
“Today, I have ordered the shutdown of the Onitsha Main Market for one week due to the protracted economic sabotage cloaked as ‘Monday sit-at-home,’ Soludo stated.
“Going forward, this order would apply to any other market in Anambra that shuts down on Monday. This action is not taken lightly, as I am determined to protect the economic interests of our state and its people.
“No individual or group has the right to halt the lives and livelihood of the people.
“I urge all traders and market stakeholders to disregard this call to economic sabotage and resume business as usual.”
He enjoined the people to support his administration in building “a prosperous Anambra” and warned those who continue to engage in economic sabotage that his government would not tolerate it any further.
READ ALSO:
- Anambra State Awards N4.443bn Contracts for 11 Projects
- Anambra 2025 Governorship Poll and Tasks Before Soludo
- Soludo’s Re-election Affirms his Visionary Leadership – Tinubu
The governor, who won his second term of four years in the last November election, assured that his administration would take all necessary steps to ensure the security and safety of lives and property in the state.
“I call on all residents of Anambra to go about their normal business activities without fear. We will continue to do everything possible to protect our economy and ensure that our state remains a hub for business and investment.
“Let us stand together against economic sabotage and build a brighter future for our state,” he added.
Pinnacle Daily reports that the Monday sit-at-home began in Southeast Nigeria in August 2021 as a form of protest against the detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
IPOB had issued the directive to pressure the Nigerian government into releasing its leader, Kanu, who was rearrested in Kenya and extradited to Nigeria in June 2021 to face trial.
The protest order was designed to shutdown economic activities in the Southeast region every Monday until Kanu’s release.
However, shortly after, the IPOB leadership officially suspended the weekly Monday order, preferring instead that sit-at-home should only be observed on days Nnamdi Kanu appeared in court. This also came after the criminal highjack of the situation by hoodlums.
Despite the official suspension, residents in states like Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia, and Ebonyi have continued to observe the Monday lockdowns, largely due to fear of violent enforcement by armed groups, also described as “unknown gunmen.”
Economic Impact
Analysts and various stakeholders have expressed concerns about the immense financial losses suffered by the residents, coupled with the loss of lives.
The SBM Intelligence in its report titled “Four Years of Disruption,” released in 2025, estimated that the sit-at-home orders led to a loss of over ₦7.6 trillion in four years.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in Mass Communication. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X
