By Sampson Uhuegbu
Traders at the Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State on Monday, partially complied with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s order to shun the sit-at-home practice and open shops from Monday to Saturday every week.
The warning came as the governor ordered the immediate closure of Onitsha Main Market for one week over traders’ continued observance of the Monday sit-at-home, despite repeated government directives abolishing the practice.
Governor Soludo took the decision during an unscheduled visit to the market, where he observed that a significant number of shops remained shut in defiance of the state government’s order lifting the sit-at-home linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The governor described the persistent closure of businesses on Mondays as unacceptable and warned that the government would no longer tolerate actions capable of undermining economic activities and public order in the state.
He stressed that traders must either comply fully with the government’s directive by operating their businesses throughout the official workweek or vacate the state, adding that further sanctions would be imposed on markets that continue to defy the order.
However, in a counter directive, IPOB announced a total shutdown of the South-East region on Monday, February 2. The group criticised Governor Soludo’s stance, insisting that the action was a legitimate and voluntary civil protest against the continued imprisonment of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, by the Nigerian government.
During the weekend, the state government announced that it had reached an agreement with the market traders as their leaders promised to obey the governor’s order.
The traders also requested that the government provide adequate security for the traders and customers to enable seamless business activities.
We observed that while some traders complied with the governor’s directive by opening their shops, many did so only partially, serving a handful of customers before quickly shutting their doors again out of fear of possible attacks.
Beyond Onitsha Main Market, it was observed that Ochanja Market in Onitsha was completely deserted on Monday morning as traders complied with the sit-at-home order issued by IPOB to counter Governor Soludo’s order.
The popular Building Materials Market in the Nkpor/Ogidi axis of Anambra State remained completely shut, with no traders or customers in sight, even though the market gates were left open.
We also observed that movement across the state was highly restricted, particularly in Onitsha, Awka, Nnewi, and other major towns. While police patrols intensified around markets and strategic junctions, the usually busy roads were strikingly quiet as residents stayed indoors, fearing possible reprisals.
At the Ogidi Building Materials Market, where every shop was locked, one trader who came merely to survey the atmosphere remarked sarcastically: “Business activities are active, everyone is out here now; come and buy whatever you want.”
At the Success Line in the Building Materials market, Ogidi, another trader said, “Success Line is empty,” sarcastically adding, “Principal (referring to the market leader) who said we must come because he will take attendance, I am here to write my attendance but the principal himself is not here.
“No students came to school. Go and tell the HOD, that is Soludo, that students have come to school but principals are not around.
“Look at how all the lines are deserted; no single soul. Only two persons are around in this Success Line. I’m heading to my shop but my line is completely empty. Tell Soludo to bring the register, let’s mark attendance because we have come.”