Chaos at Onitsha Main Market:Shutdown Ignites Trader Protests.
Anambra State, Nigeria
A major controversy has erupted in Nigeria’s commercial hub of Onitsha following the temporary closure of the Onitsha Main Market and adjoining markets by the Anambra State Government, triggering widespread reactions from traders, lawmakers, civil society groups, and business associations.
Government Orders One‑Week Shutdown
On January 26, 2026, Governor Chukwuma Soludo ordered the immediate closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week after visiting the market and observing that many traders continued to observe the Monday sit‑at‑home directive, despite government directives to resume normal business activities. The state government described the ongoing closures as economic sabotage that was detrimentally impacting the region’s economy.
The shutdown includes not just the main market but also nearby markets that depend on the commercial activities generated from the central hub. Governor Soludo emphasized that if traders continue to defy government directives after the one‑week period, the closure could be extended.
Economic Impact and Government Justification
Officials say the market’s routine closures cost the state and the wider South‑East economy billions of naira every Monday with estimates of losses reaching about N19.6 billion weekly due to reduced trade and disrupted supply chains. Lawmakers in the Anambra State House of Assembly publicly backed the governor’s actions, describing the shutdown as necessary to prevent long‑term economic harm.
The Anambra government insists that the sit‑at‑home practice originally linked to separatist agitations was officially abolished years earlier and that security has improved sufficiently to allow market activities to resume safely.
Traders Protest and Human Rights Concerns
Hundreds of traders protested the closure, arguing that shutting the market punished ordinary business owners rather than addressing the underlying security concerns that have historically deterred Monday trade. Some traders attempted to enter the market but were held back by heavy security deployment, including personnel from the police and military.
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) condemned the government’s action, describing it as punitive and a violation of traders’ rights, and called for engagement with market unions and civil society to find solutions that protect both economic activity and citizens’ rights.
Business Leaders Call for Dialogue and Reopening
In response to ongoing hardship caused by the closure, the President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) urged Governor Soludo to reconsider the shutdown and instead engage in collaborative efforts to restore market operations. ACCI highlighted the ripple effects on inventory flows, increased costs, potential spoilage of perishables, and hardships faced by transporters and dependent families.
Additionally, a former chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria issued an ultimatum asking the governor to reverse the decision within three days.
Government Stance and Future Outlook
Governor Soludo has doubled down on his position, warning that traders who refuse to open could see their shops forcibly shut by authorities and that the enforcement strategy could escalate beyond the initial one‑week shutdown.
Government officials maintain that the loss of business due to the Monday sit‑at‑home order undermines economic recovery and progress, while arguing that improved security conditions should encourage traders to resume normal operations without fear.
