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Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has issued a stern warning to traders at Onitsha Main Market, threatening to revoke ownership if they continue to defy state directives. The Governor’s announcement comes after traders ignored his executive order banning the weekly Monday sit-at-home enforced by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
The sit-at-home order, first imposed in 2021 to pressure the federal government into releasing IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, has long disrupted business activities across the South-east. While the Kanu-led IPOB has since curtailed the practice, a faction led by Simon Ekpa, now jailed, continued enforcing it—sometimes for several days—crippling the region’s economy.
Governor Soludo noted that while the order’s impact has lessened in other parts of the South-east, it remains particularly effective in Onitsha and Nnewi, affecting schools, banks, and markets. In response, he temporarily closed the Onitsha Main Market for a week after traders refused to open on a Monday. Hundreds of security personnel were deployed to ensure compliance.
At a press briefing, Soludo defended his actions, describing the sit-at-home as “deliberate economic sabotage” that has drained state revenue, disrupted civil service operations, and shortened the school week. He also revealed plans to publicly name those sponsoring the illegal order.
“This 2026 is for fighting sit-at-home. It is either they open their shops, or we revoke their ownership,” Soludo stated.
“For those asking ‘show me the law,’ they will see it. I can revoke that market, compensate people with private structures, and even allocate it for security purposes if necessary.”
Soludo also announced a recertification of market ownership in the coming weeks. He emphasized that traders unwilling to operate would have their shops reassigned to those ready to do business.
The Governor has made it clear that Onitsha Main Market is not the only target. Twelve other markets face similar sanctions if traders continue to observe the sit-at-home.
Despite criticisms from IPOB, civil society groups, and some citizens questioning his authority, Soludo maintains that his actions prioritize the state’s economic stability, security, and the welfare of its citizens.
For context, Nnamdi Kanu, the original proponent of the sit-at-home order, is currently serving a life sentence at a federal facility in Sokoto.
