Soludo abolishes Monday sit -at -home in 12 more markets

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By Madu Obi

The Anambra State government has added 12 markets to the list of those that must open for business on Mondays, or be prepared to face total closure for one month.

Soludo had, on Tuesday, shut down Onitsha Main Market for one week over the consistent refusal of the traders to open on Monday despite his directive for them to do so and described the action of the traders as economic sabotage.

The affected markets added to the list include Ochanja Central Market, Bridgehead Market, Ogbaru Main Market, Building Materials Market Ogidi, Agba-Edo Auto Spare Parts Market Nnewi, New Auto and Motorcycle Spare Parts Market Nnewi and Fairly Used Motorcycle Spare Parts Market Nnewi.

Others are New Auto Spare Parts Market Nkpor, Nkpor Main Market, Old Mercedes Benz Spare Parts Dealers Market Nkpor, Old Motor Spare Parts Market Obosi, and Electrical Dealers International Market, Obosi.

The Anambra State Government has extended its clampdown on the Monday sit-at-home order, warning traders in 12 additional markets across the state to resume full business activities or risk the sealing of their shops and prosecution for economic sabotage.

The statement announcing the abolition of the sit at home in affected markets was contained in a circular signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade and Markets, Chief Evarist Uba. It was addressed to the leaders of major markets under the umbrella of the Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA).

In the directive, titled “Abolishment of Monday Sit-at-Home,” the government ordered market chairmen to immediately notify traders in their respective markets to open for business every Monday in compliance with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s executive order to restore normal economic activities in the state.

Uba warned that any shop found locked up on Mondays would be sealed by government officials, while defaulters would be charged to court for sabotaging the state’s economy.

According to him, government monitoring teams would embark on random inspections of markets statewide, stressing that any market found to be non-compliant would be shut down for one month.

“Any shop that is not open will be sealed by government and the occupant charged to court on economic sabotage. Any market found not complying will be sealed for one month,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, Governor Soludo has scheduled a meeting with market leaders across the state to deliberate on the issue of sit at home and closure of the markets.

The meeting , which will take place on Thursday, January 29, at the International Convention Center, Awka, will be attended by chairmen and secretaries of the various markets in Anambra State.

The state government has, however ,insisted that the meeting was not as a result of the protest by some traders on Tuesday calling for the reopening of Onitsha Main Market, but was because some market leaders reached out to government to appeal for the reopening of the market.

The letter read: "President General of ASMATA (Anambra State Market Traders Association), all market chairmen and secretaries, all zonal chairmen and secretaries; and all Line chairmen and secretaries, are hereby invited to a crucial meeting with Mr. Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo on matters of urgent importance.

"Date is Thursday 29" January 2026 and time is 11.00am prompt.Venue is the International Conference Centre (ICC) Awka".

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According to a government source, there will be tight security during the meeting to avoid hoodlums from hijacking it.