Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Monday, February 2, 2026, visited Onitsha Main Market to officially reopen the market and end the long-standing Monday sit‑at-home order that has stifled business in the South-East for years.
Traders resumed operations across the market, including Emeka Offor Plaza and Lagos Line, with shops opening by mid-morning under tight security to maintain order.
During the visit, Soludo encouraged traders to fully engage in commerce and personally purchased goods from several stalls.
He declared, “We have ended the sit-at-home in Onitsha. For the first time in five years, Onitsha is open for business.”
The governor’s intervention follows weeks of uncertainty, as traders faced pressure from groups insisting on continued Monday closures.
READ ALSO: Soludo Draws The Line: ‘I Can Revoke Onitsha Main Market, Turn It Into A School’
The resumption of market activity is expected to revive trade, restore livelihoods, and boost the local economy.
State officials reminded civil servants and workers that Monday closures would no longer affect pay and assured market participants of full security.
The reopening of Onitsha Main Market signals a decisive shift toward uninterrupted economic activity in one of Nigeria’s busiest trading hubs and a renewed commitment to business growth in Anambra State.