Traders at Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State have voiced frustration over the government-enforced market closure, even as security forces maintain tight control over the area.
Some traders questioned the fairness of the shutdown, arguing that many business owners had already procured goods from larger markets within Nigeria and abroad after the yuletide period and were ready to resume sales. They warned that the directive could worsen hardships, as daily earnings are crucial for their livelihoods.
Others, however, commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo, saying that adhering to an order from an official authority carries more weight than following directives from non-state actors. Some traders even called on the governor to maintain strict security next Monday, expressing readiness to resume normal business activities.
On Tuesday, personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Department of State Services were deployed to barricade market entrances and prevent access. Additional operatives were stationed at key points to turn back traders attempting to enter the market.
Police spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga explained that the heavy security presence is intended to maintain law and order in line with the state government’s directive. He urged traders to cooperate fully to ensure public safety, economic stability, and security, assuring that authorities would keep the situation calm across Onitsha and Anambra State.
Governor Soludo ordered the closure of the market following an unscheduled inspection on Monday, which revealed that most traders had defied the sit-at-home order imposed by non-state actors.
The state government has emphasized that Mondays are regular working days, warning that violations would attract strict sanctions. Law Mefor, the State Commissioner for Information, noted that Anambra loses an estimated ₦8 billion each Monday the market remains closed.
