By Tony Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Government has extended its clampdown on the Monday sit-at-home order, warning traders in 12 additional markets across the state to resume full business activities or risk the sealing of their shops and prosecution for economic sabotage.
The warning was contained in a circular issued on Tuesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Trade and Markets (SPAD), Chief Evarist Uba, and addressed to the leadership of major markets under the umbrella of the Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA).
In the directive, titled “Abolishment of Monday Sit-at-Home,” the government ordered market chairmen to immediately notify traders in their respective markets to open for business every Monday in compliance with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s executive order to restore normal economic activities in the state.
The affected markets include Ochanja Central Market, Bridgehead Market, Ogbaru Main Market, Building Materials Market Ogidi, Agba-Edo Auto Spare Parts Market Nnewi, New Auto and Motorcycle Spare Parts Market Nnewi, Fairly Used Motorcycle Spare Parts Market Nnewi, New Auto Spare Parts Market Nkpor, Nkpor Main Market, Old Mercedes Benz Spare Parts Dealers Market Nkpor, Old Motor Spare Parts Market Obosi, and Electrical Dealers International Market, Obosi.
Chief Uba warned that any shop found locked on Mondays would be sealed by government officials, while defaulters would be charged to court for acts inimical to the state’s economy.
He further disclosed that government monitoring teams would embark on random inspections of markets statewide, stressing that any market found to be non-compliant would be shut down for one month.
“Any shop that is not open will be sealed by government and the occupant charged to court on economic sabotage. Any market found not complying will be sealed for one month,” the statement read.
The latest directive follows Governor Soludo’s recent ban on the weekly sit-at-home observance, which he described as illegal, coercive and devastating to Anambra’s economy.
According to the governor, the continued shutdown of markets and businesses every Monday has led to massive loss of revenue, job dislocation and growing hardship for traders and workers.
As part of enforcement measures, the state government on Monday ordered the closure of Onitsha Main Market for one week after traders allegedly defied the directive by keeping shops shut on a Monday.
The government also threatened a possible one-month closure should non-compliance persist, a move that heightened tension within the commercial city.
The enforcement actions sparked protests in parts of Onitsha on Tuesday, with some traders and youth groups expressing fears over loss of livelihood and calling for dialogue rather than punitive measures.
Security agencies were deployed to strategic locations to prevent a breakdown of law and order, while government officials maintained that the policy was aimed at protecting traders’ long-term economic interests.
State officials have repeatedly argued that the sit-at-home order has no lawful backing and that its enforcement through fear has scared away investors and crippled commerce in one of the South-East’s busiest trading hubs.
They insist that restoring full weekday economic activities is critical to Anambra’s internally generated revenue and overall development.
While the government urged traders to cooperate in the collective interest of the state, market leaders are expected to convene emergency meetings to brief their members and explore ways of ensuring compliance while engaging authorities on lingering concerns.
As enforcement widens to more markets, all eyes are now on how traders will respond in the coming Mondays and whether dialogue can ease the growing tension between the state government and sections of the trading community.
