Governor Calls Sit-At-Home Compliance Irrational, Vows to Protect Commerce
Korede Abdullah 
Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo
ANAMBRA, Nigeria – Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo sharply criticises continued Monday shop closures at Onitsha Main Market, calling the practice economically destructive and unsupported by current security realities.
In a statewide broadcast on Wednesday, Soludo insisted that the sit-at-home order ended in 2023, warning that persistent compliance is undermining livelihoods and investor confidence in one of West Africa’s largest commercial hubs.
“Anyone claiming insecurity as an excuse in 2026 is simply delusional,” the governor says, stressing that the market is heavily protected. He notes that more than 150 security personnel are deployed daily around the Onitsha Main Market, dismissing claims that traders remain unsafe.
Soludo questions what he describes as contradictions in public behaviour. “People attend football matches, trade on the streets and move freely across town, yet claim insecurity only affects shop owners,” he says. “That argument does not add up.”
The governor argues that markets remain open in regions facing worse security challenges, warning that voluntary shutdowns weaken Anambra’s economy and encourage job losses.
Despite the firm stance, fear persists among traders and transport operators. Johnson Okeke, a long-time trader, tells Africa Health Report that uncertainty still shapes decisions. “We want to open our shops, but fear remains on the roads,” he says. “If anything happens, who comes to our rescue?”
Commercial driver Ifeanyi Uche echoes the concern, saying many drivers avoid Mondays due to safety fears. “Until people truly believe they are protected, compliance becomes a gamble between income and survival,” he says.
The standoff highlights the ongoing tension between government assurances and public perception, as Anambra struggles to fully restore confidence in post-insurgency economic life.
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Mirian Gom 
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