Governor Chukwuma Soludo has ordered the immediate closure of the Onitsha Main Market in a move aimed at curbing sit-at-home, described as economic sabotage.

According to the report gathered, the shutdown, which takes effect immediately, will last for one week.

Sources said the decision followed the continued compliance of traders with the illegal Monday sit-at-home directive, despite repeated warnings from the state government.

The directive, announced on Monday, comes after weeks of appeals by the government to traders, market leaders, and residents to disengage from the sit-at-home order, which officials say has no legal backing and has continued to cripple economic activities across the state.

Although the closure is initially for one week, the government warned that failure of the market to fully reopen by next Monday would result in an extension of the shutdown to one month—a move that could have far-reaching consequences for traders and supply chains across the South-East and beyond.

“This is no longer about fear or compliance under duress. It is about restoring law, order, and economic sanity,” a senior government official said.

The state government maintained that the continued observance of sit-at-home undermines public safety efforts, emboldens criminal elements, and projects Anambra as unsafe for business and investment.

It also issued a stern warning to market unions, transport operators, and individuals suspected of enforcing or promoting the sit-at-home order, stating that anyone found aiding or abetting the practice would face legal and regulatory sanctions.

Security agencies have reportedly been placed on alert to ensure compliance and protect traders willing to resume business activities.

While some traders welcomed the government’s firm stance, describing it as long overdue, others expressed fear and uncertainty, citing security concerns and previous incidents of violence linked to defying sit-at-home orders.

The Anambra State Government, however, assured residents that adequate security measures are being put in place to protect lives and property, urging traders to cooperate in the interest of collective economic survival.

As the countdown to next Monday begins, attention is now focused on Onitsha Main Market, where the decision to reopen or remain shut could significantly influence Anambra State’s economic outlook in the coming weeks.