Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State has been ordered closed for one week starting Monday, January 26, 2026, after traders refused to open their shops despite a government directive.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo imposed the closure in response to widespread defiance of the long-standing Monday sit-at-home practice that has regularly disrupted business in the city.
The state government had recently directed traders to resume normal operations on Mondays to revive commercial activities and ensure the market operates without interruption.
However, many traders ignored the order, prompting authorities to take decisive action to enforce compliance.
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The closure will last until Monday, February 2, 2026, during which the government plans to engage market leaders and stakeholders to ensure that trading resumes smoothly.
Officials stressed that the measure is aimed at sustaining economic activity in one of West Africa’s busiest commercial hubs while curbing disruptions caused by the weekly sit-at-home observance.