Soludo Slams Onitsha Market Traders, Dismisses Insecurity Claims Over Monday Closures

Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has rejected claims by some Onitsha Main Market traders that insecurity is the reason they stay away from their shops on Mondays, describing the excuse as unrealistic.

On Monday, Soludo ordered the closure of the market for one week, accusing traders of still observing the Monday sit-at-home directive allegedly imposed by non-state groups.

The governor warned that the shutdown would be extended if traders failed to resume business after the one-week period, with even longer closures possible.

Speaking during a broadcast on Wednesday, Soludo repeated his stance that the sit-at-home order had officially ended in Anambra State since 2023.

He described the continued closure of shops on Mondays as harmful to the state’s economy.

The governor said, “It could be said that since 2023, anybody saying he didn’t open the shop because of insecurity is just delusional.

“Go round some other places that are more insecure, and the markets are open. Onitsha, of all places, Main Market, with over 150 security personnel, and you are saying the reason you are not open is because of insecurity? Absolute nonsense.”

He further questioned why traders could attend sporting activities, exercise on major roads, and even engage in roadside trading on Mondays, yet refuse to open their shops in the main market.

“But you are in the stadium playing, insecurity allows you to go to the stadium to play, allows you to be working out on the roads, allows street trading all over the place, the roads are blocked with street trading — but insecurity doesn’t allow you to open your shops at the Main Market,” the governor said.

The governor stressed that the Onitsha Main Market is owned by the state government, giving authorities the power to decide how it should function.

Soludo insisted that the market must operate six days a week and warned that traders who continue to default risk losing their shop ownership rights.

Meanwhile, residents on Wednesday blocked the Onitsha Head Bridge in protest against the shutdown of the Onitsha Main Market by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.