Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has insisted that the Onitsha Main Market will remain closed for the full one week earlier ordered by the state government.
He accused some traders of deliberately enforcing Monday sit at home orders, describing the action as economic sabotage.
Soludo questioned why the market operated on Mondays during the festive period but returned to shutdowns afterward.
Speaking at the Light House in Awka, the governor dismissed security concerns, saying more than 150 security personnel are stationed within the market and that activities have resumed across most parts of the state.
He said closing markets every Monday hurts Anambra’s economy and affects daily income earners.
The governor warned that the government could invoke the Land Use Act to revoke market land allocations if the practice continues.
He added that a redevelopment master plan for the market has been in place since 2023.
Soludo said the temporary closure, though difficult, is necessary to protect the state’s economic future and reassure investors of a full business week in Anambra.
