Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has ordered the closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week after traders failed to comply with the state government’s directive to resume normal business activities today.

The governor gave the order during an on-site visit to the market on Monday, warning that the shutdown could be extended if compliance is not achieved, while noting that security agencies have sealed the market to enforce the directive.

Soludo said the traders’ continued absence despite assurances of improved security amounted to economic sabotage and a quiet defiance driven by fear, stressing that the government would not allow a few individuals to undermine efforts to restore normalcy.

He warned that the market would be sealed for one month if it fails to reopen after the one-week closure, as the state intensifies measures to end the Monday sit-at-home, including plans to introduce pro-rata salary payments for civil servants based on Monday attendance from February 2026.