Soludo Lifts Onitsha Main Market Closure, Declares End to Monday Sit-at-Home

The Anambra State Government has announced the reopening of the Onitsha Main Market for full commercial activities starting Monday, February 2, 2026, following the expiration of a one-week closure ordered by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

The market was shut down last week after traders failed to comply with the state’s directive to ignore the persistent Monday sit-at-home order, widely associated with the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Governor Soludo issued the closure during an on-the-spot assessment on January 26, accompanied by senior officials and security personnel, warning that non-compliance could lead to an extension and that security agencies would enforce the seal.

In a statement issued Sunday by Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, the government confirmed that the closure period had lapsed and directed traders to resume normal operations.

“This is to inform the general public that the closure of Onitsha Main Market, ordered by Mr Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, lapses this weekend,” the statement read in part. “Accordingly, all traders are hereby directed to resume business as usual on Monday, February 2, 2026, as there is no longer any form of sit-at-home on Mondays in Anambra State.”

Mefor assured traders and residents of adequate security measures, urging them to disregard threats from non-state actors and to report any concerns immediately via the emergency line 5111.

The commissioner reiterated the state’s pro-rata salary policy for civil servants and teachers, emphasising that “no work on Monday means no pay.” He also warned parents to ensure their children attend school on Mondays to avoid sanctions.

The decision comes amid heightened tensions in the Southeast over the Monday sit-at-home practice, which has disrupted economic activities for years. Recent reports indicate that market leaders reached an understanding with the government to end Monday closures, with the state pledging to enhance security arrangements, including a potential rejig of market protection measures.

The Onitsha Main Market, one of West Africa’s largest commercial hubs, reportedly suffered significant losses estimated in the hundreds of billions of naira during the brief shutdown.

Governor Soludo’s administration has maintained a firm stance against the sit-at-home order, describing its enforcement as having evolved into a criminal enterprise rather than a legitimate protest. The reopening is seen as a test of the state’s resolve to normalise business operations on all working days, including Mondays, despite potential resistance from separatist elements.

Traders and residents are expected to return to the market under heavy security presence to prevent any disruptions.