Onitsha main market sit-at-home tensions softened on Monday as Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo visited the market following the resumption of trading activities. The visit came after a one-week government-ordered shutdown aimed at forcing compliance with Monday business operations. Authorities say the action was taken to revive economic activity and restore order.
The Onitsha main market, widely regarded as one of West Africa’s largest commercial centres, was sealed last week after several traders reportedly ignored government directives to open on Mondays. State officials said repeated defiance left them with no option but to shut the market temporarily to enforce compliance.
The sit-at-home practice began in 2021 during agitation for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra. Although a federal high court in Abuja sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment on November 20, 2025, the weekly shutdowns have persisted in parts of the south-east, disrupting commerce and daily life.
Addressing traders during his visit, Soludo made it clear that his administration would no longer tolerate the sit-at-home culture. He stressed that Mondays are official working days and must be treated as such across the state. He praised traders who reopened their shops, describing them as committed to Anambra’s economic survival.
The governor noted that the market was lively and operational, pointing to it as proof that confidence was gradually returning. He also pledged to personally patronise traders, saying the gesture was meant to demonstrate trust and solidarity with the business community.
In recent weeks, the Anambra government has intensified enforcement against the sit-at-home order. Authorities have announced penalties for individuals and institutions that fail to operate on Mondays. Last month, the state warned that civil servants who stay away from work on Mondays would have their salaries deducted, calling the practice illegal and economically damaging.
Economic analysts estimate the south-east has lost about N7.6 trillion over four years due to repeated shutdowns of markets, schools, and public institutions. Soludo has repeatedly said his government remains focused on restoring law and order, reviving commerce, and protecting Anambra’s role as a major trading hub.
