The Anambra State Government on Monday shut down the New Motorcycle Spare Parts Market in Nnewi after an official inspection revealed that a majority of shops remained locked, despite a standing directive that markets must open for business on Mondays.
The closure, carried out on February 23, 2026, followed a routine monitoring exercise by government inspectors who discovered widespread non-compliance among traders.
The development comes months after the state government lifted the sit-at-home order previously enforced by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which had mandated the closure of markets and businesses across the South-East on Mondays.
Governor Charles Soludo had earlier declared that the Monday sit-at-home order was no longer in effect in Anambra, urging residents and business owners to resume normal economic activities.
The state has consistently maintained that markets must operate fully on Mondays as part of efforts to restore economic stability and public confidence.
However, during Monday’s inspection in Nnewi — widely regarded as the commercial and industrial hub of Anambra — officials found that many traders had chosen to keep their shops closed.
A government source familiar with the inspection said the action was taken to reinforce compliance and demonstrate the administration’s resolve to end any lingering observance of the suspended order.
“The government has made its position clear that Mondays are regular working days. Compliance is not optional,” the source said, adding that the closure was meant to send a strong message that economic activities must not be disrupted by unlawful directives.
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The New Motorcycle Spare Parts Market is a major distribution center for motorcycle components across the South-East and beyond.
The shutdown is expected to temporarily affect hundreds of traders, apprentices, transporters, and suppliers who depend on daily transactions for their livelihoods.
Some market leaders expressed concern over the abrupt closure, calling on the government to provide clarity on the conditions for reopening.
A trader who spoke on condition of anonymity said fear and uncertainty still influence some business owners’ decisions.
“Some people are still cautious. There are security concerns in some areas, and traders are trying to protect themselves,” he said.
State authorities, however, insist that normalcy must be restored and that economic life cannot continue to suffer setbacks tied to a directive that has officially been lifted.
As of press time, the government had not announced a specific date for reopening the market but indicated that compliance with state directives would be a key condition for lifting the closure.