Onitsha Main Market Reopens As Traders Test Soludo’s Assurance

SECURITY, FEAR AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE

A Careful Return to Business

TRADERS at the Onitsha Main Market on Monday cautiously reopened their shops following a directive by Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, signalling a gradual erosion of the sit-at-home order that has disrupted the South-East for years.

The reopening came after the state government shut the market for one week as a punitive measure against perceived compliance with the sit-at-home.

Market Activity Builds Slowly

By about 8:45 a.m., traders began arriving at the market, opening shops and arranging wares. Activity was observed across major corridors, including Egerton Road, Ose Foodstuff Market, Young Park, Emeka Offor Plaza and the Marine axis.

While business was not at peak levels, customers were seen patronising open shops, reflecting cautious optimism among residents.

Why the Market Was Closed

The market was shut last Monday after Governor Soludo accused traders of undermining government efforts to restore normal economic life by observing the sit-at-home.

The governor warned that further defiance would result in extended closures, stressing that the state would not tolerate actions that cripple economic productivity.

Security Measures in Place

Security personnel, including police and soldiers, were deployed to secure the market and enforce compliance. Their presence was aimed at preventing intimidation and reassuring traders that the environment was safe.

For many traders, fear rather than ideological support had driven compliance with the sit-at-home in the past.

A Practice Under Pressure

The sit-at-home, enforced by non-state actors, has for years paralysed social and economic life across parts of the South-East, leaving markets and schools deserted on Mondays.

Successive administrations have condemned the practice, but enforcement has been uneven.

Soludo’s Anti–Sit-at-Home Campaign

Since assuming office, Soludo has taken a firm stance against the sit-at-home. In April 2022, he declared it over, offered amnesty to youths in hiding and initiated peace-building efforts.

Although fear still lingers among some residents, Monday’s reopening of the Onitsha Main Market suggests a gradual shift in public confidence and a possible turning point in the state’s economic recovery.