₦airaland Forum

Anambra Governor Soludo Shuts Onitsha Main Market For One Week After Traders Ignore Monday Sit-at-Home Ban
January 26, 2026

Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has ordered the immediate closure of Onitsha Main Market for one week following the refusal of traders to open for business on Monday in line with the state government’s directive abolishing the sit-at-home practice.

The development was disclosed on Monday in a statement by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Aburime, who said the decision followed what the government described as continued defiance by the leadership and traders at the market.

Onitsha Main Market, regarded as one of the largest commercial centres in West Africa, has been a focal point in the state government’s campaign to end the long-standing Monday sit-at-home tradition in the Southeast.

According to Aburime, the shutdown is “more than an administrative penalty,” describing it as part of a broader effort by the Soludo administration to reclaim Mondays as normal business days and restore economic life across the state.

Governor Soludo was quoted as saying that the government would not tolerate actions capable of undermining its efforts to restore normalcy.

“The government cannot stand by while a few individuals willfully undermine public safety and disregard official directives meant to restore normalcy. This is plain economic sabotage. We are not going to allow this
,” the governor said.

He warned that tougher sanctions would follow if the market fails to comply after the one-week closure.

“If the market does not reopen for business after this one-week shutdown, it will be sealed for a month. And so on and so forth,” Soludo added.

The governor also issued a stern ultimatum to traders, insisting that they must decide whether to do business under the government’s rules or vacate the market.

“You either decide that you are going to trade here or you go elsewhere. I am very serious about this,” he said.

Security sources confirmed that a joint task force comprising the police, army, and other security agencies was deployed to the market to enforce the shutdown and secure the premises. Traders who attempted to access the market were reportedly turned back.

The Monday sit-at-home practice, initially linked to separatist agitations and insecurity in the Southeast, has officially been abolished by the Anambra State Government, which says security has significantly improved.

According to the Soludo administration, the strict enforcement is necessary to break what it describes as a “psychological barrier” that continues to keep traders away from their businesses despite government assurances.

SaharaReporters

Onitsha Main Market, regarded as one of the largest commercial centres in West Africa, has been a focal point in the state government’s campaign to end the long-standing Monday sit-at-home tradition in the Southeast.

Soloewu we will see where this leads you

You want to end sit-at-home by ordering sit-at-home

You can't see the obvious contradiction and gross illegality in that because you are desperately trying to appease your employers in Abuja who are jittery over the activities in Washington DC.

Power truly corrupts.

Who will loose...? .foolish man.. Soludo better look into his gay son before Trump deports him.

This man is just wasting his time. Until he violently press Tinubu's neck to release Nnamdi kanu there will continue to be sit at home every Monday.

Just imagine. The governor is making order, some illiterate kids are also making orders while the citizens are just confused on who to listen to.

South East, the wonderland region in Nigeria

TOPCRUISE:
This man is just wasting his time. Until he press Tinubu's neck to release Nnamdi kanu there will continue to be Monday sit at home.

Hahaha, I thought you Igbo's claimed you don't worship anyone? Why should incarceration of one person paralyze the economic activities of the whole region?

Meanwhile, where is Alagulu of Agulu land? He dare not put mouth into this.

Charity mean nothing to him

Soludo is now the one enforcing sit at home. Does the man think we are in military times? He will learn the hard way that there are no emperors in Anambra

gidgiddy:
Soludo is now the one enforcing sit at home. Does the man think we are in military times? He will learn the hard way that there are no emperors in Anambra

You read so?

How’s he enforcing sit at home?

Set of people who want to save Nigeria, can not rescue themselves from self imposed sit at home.


New Nigeria indeed.

PulaPower:
You read so?

How’s he enforcing sit at home?

He just sent all traders home for one week

Since this man Soludo started hobnobbing with APC he has become something else. What is this governor doing for the Release of his brother from prison .

Why does Soludo think that such extreme measures will solve anything or help Anambra. He is making too much noise about this sit at home. Is he the önly governor from the East ? Who is he trying to impress

Today, he will complain that the sit at home lto billions of Naira losses but in his APC parapo wisdom, loosing billions in a day is too small instead more billions each day should be lost in 7 days.

Soludo use your tongue count your teeth

helinues:
Just imagine. The governor is making order, some illiterate kids are also making orders while the citizens are just confused on who to listen to.

South East, the wonderland region in Nigeria

Dis man, your data collection job is not yet over. It will never be. You are now crying about my neigbours you strongly dislike

Omo Soludo even let them know say 1 month suspension dey bag o if dem say sense far from them.
He dey im second tenure n he no send anybody esp d ipob boys

Good one mr governor. You can’t hear the fake statistics man and agulu president criticise the seat at home because it is happening in the east.

Videos.

Just In:

SIT-AT-HOME: Gov. Soludo shuts down Onitsha Main Market… Declares total crack down on Economic Sabotage!

Any market in Anambra state that is not open on Mondays going forward will remain closed for a week.#Solutioncontinues #AnambraIsRising pic.twitter.com/wGBIvegGIn

— Anambra State New Media (@AnambraNewMedia) January 26, 2026

Governor Chukwuma Soludo this morning ordered a one-week shutdown of Onitsha Main Market over traders’ compliance with the Monday sit-at-home order, warning of a longer closure if they fail to reopen. Security agencies have sealed the market to enforce the directive. pic.twitter.com/tqYBW7nOQx

— CHUKS 🍥 (@ChuksEricE) January 26, 2026

Sitting at home while talking about others obeying and supporting terrorists in the regions. Height of hypocrisy

He doesn't appear to be a very smart leader

Soludo should not trample on the civic rights of the people of Anambra.

They have a right to sit at home at their own discretion.

Not even when Tuesdays and Friday’s are about to be added and he started provocation.

Our blothers dey see pepper for their underdeveloped region
Chai!

TOPCRUISE:
This man is just wasting his time. Until he press Tinubu's neck to release Nnamdi kanu there will continue to be Monday sit at home.

By next year everyone will forget about Nnamdi Kanu's matter

garykoeman:
Set of people who want to save Nigeria, can not rescue themselves from self imposed sit at home.


New Nigeria indeed.

It's self voluntary no one is getting paid like the APC keyboard warriors. So if they lose money it's non of your business. I just wonder why you are pained

There is a smoke and this professor is saying that the solution to quench the smoke is by pouring petrol to the smoke.

The man Soludo is enforcing the sit at home order with this directive.

Trading happens between seller and buyer. What is the punishment for buyers who don't come to markets on monday?

techbro1:
He doesn't appear to be a very smart leader

Is it you that has never being a local government chairman that knows about leadership?

Good one. Welcome development. Prof soludo gat steel balls. After the 1 week expiration, if they still sit at home, increase the shutdown to 2 weeks sir.
On a serious note, SW don't even joke with Monday, they see it a special day that is sacred economically. They don't take shiit on Monday when it comes to business matters.

Sit at home continue for 1 week.

Monday sit at home is an addition to the Saturday and Sunday weekly holidays in Alaigbo!

Na constitution remain make them amend!

Well, the people have to be willing to liberate themselves from the Nnamdi Kanu ideology.
And the government has to find a solution to the MNK quagmire

Soludo is setting up his Isuofia kinsmen for a big hit. They will be hit very hard

jmoore:
There is a smoke and this professor is saying that the solution to quench the smoke is by pouring petrol to the smoke.

Please suggest a better way of handling the problem