By Chuks Collins, Awka
Jan 26,2026
The Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo has ordered the immediate closure of the popular Onitsha Main Market.
The move, according to government sources was to enforce compliance with the Governor’s earlier directive to stop adherence to the controversial Mondays sit-at-home order/closure of the market on the order and threats of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB)
Prof Soludo ordered the immediate shutdown/sealing of the Onitsha main market for one week in the first instance.
He also threatened to seal the market indefinitely if the need arises.
The Governor’s action follows repeated disregard to his directive against Sit-At-Home order by IPOB on Mondays for some years now.
Market associations leaderships in the various markets in the state had appeared to listened more to the faceless non-state actors instead of Soludo who had cautioned them stop the Sit-At-Home order or face the consequences.
The Mondays sit-at-home order, which has disrupted economic, commercial and social activities across the Southeast geopolitical zone at huge economic cost for years, was publicly condemned by the Soludo administration.
The Governor had called on citizens to jettison the order and urged residents to go about their normal lawful activities without fear of any form of molestation.
Gov Soludo emphasized that if the traders do not comply fully with his directive and open at the expiration of the shut down, the market will be shut down for one month or more.
He pointed out that the closure became necessary to protect law-abiding citizens and reinforce the authority of the government.
He insisted that the government cannot stand by and watch while a few individuals willfully undermine public safety and disregard official directives meant to restore normalcy.
Security personnel, including the police, army among others, were immediately deployed to seal the market gates and ensure full and immediate compliance.
