Sit-At-Home: Onitsha Traders Follow Soludo’s Order, Resume Business

Traders at Onitsha Main Market have returned to business after complying with an order from Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo.

KanyiDaily recalls that Soludo directed that the market be closed for one week, accusing traders of observing the Monday sit-at-home declared by non-state actors.

The governor made it clear that if shops remained shut after the initial one-week suspension, the closure would be extended, possibly for longer periods.

One week after commercial activities were halted, business gradually picked up again.

On Monday morning, traders were already arriving in large numbers to reopen their shops.

An visit of the area showed that trading had resumed as early as 8:45 a.m. From Egerton to the Ose foodstuff market and down to The Young Park — a major gateway into the Main Market — shop owners were arranging their goods and welcoming customers.

The same scene played out across Emeka Offor Plaza, Sokoto Road, Lagos Line, and Marine.

Many stalls were open, and buyers had begun returning, signaling compliance with the state government’s directive to ignore the sit-at-home order.

The Monday shutdown, which has lingered for nearly four years in parts of the South-East, has repeatedly disrupted economic and social life.

The Soludo administration has openly criticised the action, describing it as harmful to the region’s economy.

The state government has consistently encouraged residents to carry on with their normal activities without fear, insisting that the sit-at-home directive is unlawful and damaging to livelihoods.

To enforce the recent market closure, security operatives, including police officers and soldiers, were deployed to lock the market gates and ensure adherence.

Over the years, the Monday restriction has left businesses, schools, and offices across parts of Anambra deserted.

The practice, introduced by non-state actors, has drawn widespread criticism for the financial losses it causes, especially in busy commercial centres like Onitsha.

KanyiDaily recalls that angry traders previously blocked the Onitsha Head Bridge in protest against the shutdown of the Onitsha Main Market by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.