Commercial activities are set to fully resume at the Onitsha Main Market after Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, approved the reopening of the trading hub following the end of a one-week government-imposed closure.
The shutdown had earlier been enforced after authorities discovered that many traders were still staying away from their shops on Mondays in compliance with the sit-at-home order previously linked to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), despite repeated assurances that such directives were no longer in effect.
After carrying out an inspection of the market alongside security operatives and senior government officials, the governor directed that normal business operations should recommence from Monday, February 2, 2026.
Before the reopening, Soludo had warned that the closure could be extended if traders failed to return to their businesses. Security personnel were also deployed at the time to ensure the market remained sealed until compliance improved.
The temporary shutdown sparked demonstrations in parts of Onitsha, as traders marched along major roads demanding the immediate reopening of the market. Footage circulating online showed protesters holding placards and chanting while expressing frustration over what they described as a threat to their means of livelihood.
Confirming the development in an official statement issued on Sunday, the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, announced that the one-week closure had expired.
He instructed all traders to resume their daily activities, stressing that there is no longer any sit-at-home directive on Mondays within Anambra State.
Residents and business owners were advised to disregard intimidation from non-state actors, with assurances that sufficient security arrangements have been put in place across the state.
Mefor encouraged members of the public to report any suspicious or security-related incidents through the emergency line 5111.
The commissioner also reminded civil servants and teachers that the state’s pro-rata salary policy remains active, emphasizing that workers who fail to report on Mondays would not be paid for the day.
Parents were equally cautioned to ensure their children attend school on Mondays to avoid possible disciplinary consequences.
Meanwhile, a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra announced plans for a one-day sit-at-home across the South-East region on Monday, February 2, describing the action as a protest against the temporary closure of the Onitsha Main Market.
In a statement released on Friday, the group’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, characterized the government’s decision as unfair, insisting the sit-at-home exercise was voluntary and intended to show solidarity with affected traders.
The announcement reportedly increased tension across several South-East states, including Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo, raising fears about possible economic disruption and security concerns.
However, the Anambra State Police Command reassured residents that measures were in place to maintain peace and order. Police spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga stated that previous attacks on security agents and public facilities were carried out by criminal elements seeking to spread fear.
According to the police, the state government, in collaboration with residents, remains determined to end harmful practices tied to the security challenges, particularly the illegal enforcement of Monday sit-at-home and the forced closure of markets.
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