𝗢𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗵𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘃𝗼𝘄 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝘁-𝗮𝘁-𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆!

𝗢𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗵𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘃𝗼𝘄 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝘁-𝗮𝘁-𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆!

Reported by Mustapha Labake Omowumi | Sele Media Africa Journalist

Traders in Onitsha, Anambra State’s bustling commercial hub, have pledged to end the controversial Monday sit-at-home directive and resume full business activities from Monday, following engagements with the state government.

During a public interaction with Governor Chukwuma Soludo and market leaders on Thursday, traders from the Onitsha Main Market and other major markets expressed readiness to end compliance with the weekly sit-at-home order, which has severely disrupted economic activity in the region.

Market representatives appealed for visible and sustained security presence in and around market areas, full operation of motor parks to facilitate movement of goods and customers, and decisive action against those enforcing or benefiting from the sit-at-home directive.

“We have resolved to open for full activities on Monday. We have lost so much fortune since the creation of the Monday sit-at-home in the South-East region,” market leaders declared, according to traders’ statements.

In response, Governor Soludo reaffirmed that all markets and shops in Anambra State must remain open every working day, including Mondays, emphasizing that the era of sit-at-home-induced closures must end to protect economic growth and stability.

The sit-at-home order, previously linked to protests surrounding the detention of pro-Biafra activist Nnamdi Kanu, has hampered trade and daily commerce in Onitsha and other parts of the South-East for years. Soludo has described the weekly lockdowns as economic sabotage and reiterated the state government’s commitment to enforcing normal business operations.

Traders’ assurance to resume business comes amid a broader directive from the state government for markets to operate routinely on Mondays or face sanctions, including temporary closures and enforcement .

Citation:

1.Punch Nigeria:
https://punchng.com/onitsha-traders-vow-end-to-sit-at-home-resume-monday/

2.Daily Post:
https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/29/we-wont-sit-at-home-again-onitsha-main-market-traders-assure-soludo/

3. HeadTopics:
   https://ng.headtopics.com/news/onitsha-market-traders-pledge-to-end-monday-sit-at-home-79055055

4.Leadership
https://leadership.ng/anambra-not-a-4-day-per-week-state-soludo-defends-onitsha-market-closure/

5.Punch Nigeria:
https://punchng.com/sit-at-home-anambra-traders-appeal-for-adequate-security/

About The Author

Mustapha Labake Omowumi

author

Mustapha Labake Omowumi is a journalist from Ibadan, Oyo State, and a graduate of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics and Mathematics. He demonstrates a strong commitment to professional journalism, with a keen interest in writing and storytelling, guided by principles of self-discipline, accuracy, and trustworthiness.

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