By Adejola Adeyemi Crown
The Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has warned traders at Onitsha Main Market that continued closure on Mondays will no longer be tolerated.
He described the Monday sit-at-home as a deliberate attempt at “economic sabotage” and stressed that the state government has the authority to revoke shop ownership of defiant traders.
Speaking during a press briefing at the Light House, Awka, on Wednesday, Soludo recalled that the sit-at-home officially ended in 2022.
He noted that those still observing it are being influenced by external elements seeking to hinder the state’s economic progress.
The governor further said that during his detention visit to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Kanu himself dissociated from the exercise, reinforcing that it was no longer supported by IPOB.
Soludo expressed concern that despite repeated engagements with traders and market leaders, the closure persists in key commercial hubs such as Onitsha and Nnewi.
“The Onitsha Main Market was opened on Mondays throughout the Yuletide season, but the recent closures show that some people are intent on holding Anambra back,” he said.
He stressed that the market is owned by the state government and warned that non-compliance would result in revocation of shop licenses.
“By Monday, if the shops remain closed again, we will shut it down and every trader will have to come for recertification. There is no negotiation on this,” Soludo added.
The governor also highlighted the social and economic consequences of the sit-at-home, including disruption of education and loss of revenue, noting that the exercise affects not just traders but the wider Anambra economy.
He insisted that the state is now safe for business and investors, calling for full compliance to restore normalcy.
Earlier, protesters opposing the market closure had blocked the Onitsha Head Bridge, chanting slogans against government action.
However, Soludo maintained that security personnel are sufficient and that claims of insecurity as a reason for closure are unfounded.
He concluded that the government will continue its crackdown on criminal elements while ensuring that Anambra’s markets operate throughout the week for the benefit of traders, residents, and investors alike.
