By Mick Oseji, Asaba
Anambra State Government on Tuesday deployed security operatives to enforce the weeklong shut down of the Main Market Onitsha following the traders refusal to open their shops for trading activities yesterday..
The traders had in compliance with the Monday sit – at – home imposed on the state and other Southeast States by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) locked their shops and stalls at the Main Market Onitsha yesterday, compelling Governor Chukwuma Soludo to shut it down after visiting the market same yesterday, January 26, 2026.
Defending the government’s action, the State Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, lamented that the practice of sit – at – home was hemorrhaging not just the economy of Anambra but also the Southeast geopolitical zone.
Describing it as an economic sabotage, Mefor revealed that Anambra State was losing an estimated N8bn weekly to the sit – at – home practice, adding that it was also draining the Southeast economy to the tune of N19.6bn.
Mefor noted that the government couldn’t stand by any longer while economic sabotage hemorrhaged the state’s resources.
He said that the market would reopen on Monday, February 2, but warned that if traders failed to resume operations, the market may face a full one-month closure.
His statement: “I am officially announcing that the Onitsha Main Market is shut down for one week, effective today, January 26, through Saturday, January 31, 2026.
“This decisive action follows non-compliance with our directive to end the Monday “sit-at-home” culture, a practice that costs our state approximately ₦8 billion every single week and drains ₦19.6 billion from the South East economy.
“We cannot stand by while economic sabotage hemorrhages our state’s resources. Let this serve as a clear warning: the market will reopen on Monday, February 2, but if traders are not ready to resume operations then and every subsequent Monday, the market will face a full one-month closure.
“While all other markets in Anambra remain open, they will face similar closures if they fail to operate on Mondays.
“I urge everyone to steer clear of the area during this period to avoid encounters with deployed security personnel. We are committed to reclaiming our productivity and ensuring a secure, prosperous homeland for all.”
