Anambra Governor Orders One-Week Closure Of Onitsha Main Market Over Traders’ Defiance
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has ordered the closure of Onitsha Main Market for one week following traders’ persistent defiance of the state government’s directive to disregard the Monday sit-at-home order. Soludo issued the order on Monday during an on-the-spot inspection of the market, accompanied by senior government officials and security personnel. Security operatives have sealed the market to enforce compliance. The governor noted that despite repeated assurances of improved security and appeals for traders to resume business, many shops remained shut on Monday. He described the traders’ actions as deliberate disobedience and economic sabotage. “The government cannot stand by while a few individuals undermine public safety and disregard official directives meant to restore normalcy. This is plain economic sabotage,” Soludo said. He emphasized that the closure is intended to protect law-abiding citizens and warned that failure to reopen the market after the one-week shutdown could result in an extended closure of up to one month. “You either decide to trade here or go elsewhere. I am very serious about this,” the governor added.