The Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has mentioned the failure of merchants on the Onitsha Fundamental Market to open their retailers on Monday is an act of {economic} sabotage, insisting that the sit-at-home order stopped within the state in 2023.
This was made identified by Governor Soludo whereas talking at a press briefing in Awka, Anambra State on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, to handle his choice to close down the Onitsha Fundamental Market.
Soludo has described as “delusional” the declare by some merchants within the Market that they don’t open their retailers on Mondays as a consequence of insecurity.
Soludo mentioned the state authorities wouldn’t hesitate to revoke store possession rights and even take over and redevelop the market if merchants fail to adjust to the directive to renew Monday buying and selling.
Soludo dismissed claims that insecurity was answerable for merchants staying away on Mondays, noting that markets operated all through the yuletide interval with out incidents.
He mentioned, “I need to say clearly that the Monday sit-at-home is deliberate {economic} sabotage and it’ll not be allowed to proceed. If it involves revoking store possession and even taking possession of the market, we’ll do what is important to place issues proper.
“If insecurity was the problem, why have been there no issues when merchants opened from Monday to Saturday and even on Sundays in the course of the festive season?” Soludo requested. “Individuals go for conferences, train at stadiums and transfer round freely on Mondays, but their goal is Onitsha Fundamental Market.
“It might be mentioned that since 2023, anyone saying he didn’t open the store due to insecurity is simply delusional.
“Go spherical another locations which can be extra insecure, and the markets are open. Onitsha, of all locations, Fundamental Market, with over 150 safety personnel, and you might be saying the explanation you aren’t open is due to insecurity? Absolute nonsense.’’
Soludo argued that if the identical merchants may go to the stadium on Mondays to play, train on the roads, or interact in avenue buying and selling, they might simply as properly open their retailers.
“However you might be within the stadium taking part in, insecurity lets you go to the stadium to play, lets you be understanding on the roads, permits avenue buying and selling in all places, the roads are blocked with avenue buying and selling — however insecurity doesn’t will let you open your retailers on the Fundamental Market,” the governor mentioned.
Governor Soludo on Monday, January 26, 2025, ordered the instant closure of the Onitsha Fundamental Marketplace for one week following the continued observance of the Monday sit-at-home by merchants.
The governor described the sit-at-home as a long-standing risk to {economic} life within the area, noting that regardless of repeated assurances of improved safety and appeals to reclaim public areas, merchants on the market as soon as once more saved their retailers closed.
