Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has dismissed claims by some traders in Onitsha Main Market that they do not open their shops on Mondays due to insecurity, calling the assertion “delusional.”
Soludo argued that the Monday sit-at-home directive officially ended in 2023, describing the continued closure of shops by traders as an act of economic sabotage.
“Go round some other places that are more insecure, and the markets are open. Onitsha Main Market, with over 150 security personnel, and you are saying the reason you are not open is insecurity? Absolute nonsense,” he said.
The governor emphasized that if traders could go to the stadium to play, exercise on the roads, or engage in street trading, they should also be able to open their shops.
“But you are in the stadium playing, exercising on the roads, street trading all over the place — yet insecurity doesn’t allow you to open your shops at the Main Market,” Soludo added.
On Monday, the governor ordered a one-week closure of the major South-East market in response to traders’ perceived compliance with the sit-at-home order.
He warned that if traders fail to open shops after the one-week shutdown, the closure could be extended.
Soludo stressed that Onitsha Main Market is state property and that authorities have the right to determine market operations.
He insisted that the market must operate six days a week and cautioned that defaulting traders could lose shop ownership.
Despite the governor’s assurances, some traders remain concerned about their safety.
Speaking on The Morning Brief programme, trader Gibson Okafor noted that while security was provided within the market, routes leading to the market on Mondays still lack adequate protection.
“The governor promised security, but traders coming from Nkpor, Asaba, and other areas need transporters to operate and security along the routes.
”If they don’t see security men and transporters, they can’t come to the market,” Okafor explained.
He also cited banks’ non-operation and unavailable transport services as factors limiting traders’ ability to open on Mondays.
The Monday sit-at-home had paralysed parts of Anambra State for years, emptying markets, schools, and offices, and stifling economic and social activities.
Imposed by non-state actors, it has faced criticism for undermining livelihoods.
To restore normalcy, Governor Soludo officially ended the sit-at-home in April 2022, introducing an amnesty for youths in hideouts and establishing a peace and reconciliation committee to maintain stability.
