The chairperson of Onitsha Main Market, one of the biggest trading hubs in Onitsha, a major commercial city in Anambra State in south-eastern Nigeria, Chijioke Okpalaugo, has backed Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo for shutting the market for one week after many traders complied with a sit-at-home order.
Mr Okpalaugo spoke on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, during an interaction with reporters in his office in Onitsha, saying the governor’s decision was aimed at restoring the market’s strength and protecting livelihoods that depend on daily trading.
Governor Soludo ordered the temporary closure after visiting the market on Monday, 26 January 2026, and observing that many shops were shut. The state government said the closures appeared linked to the sit-at-home directive that has affected economic activity across parts of the South-east.
The sit-at-home order is often enforced by a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist group that has been banned in Nigeria and campaigns for an independent state for the South-east and parts of the South-south.
Following the governor’s action, the Anambra State Government said on Monday night that the sit-at-home directive costs the state about ₦8 billion each week, but it did not provide details to support the figure.
The market closure sparked anger among some traders, who protested on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, and openly supported the Monday sit-at-home in honour of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB. The protest continued into Wednesday, 28 January 2026, when demonstrators blocked the River Niger Bridge, a major crossing that links Onitsha in Anambra State to Asaba, the capital of Delta State in Nigeria’s South-south.
Support For Closure, But With An Appeal
Mr Okpalaugo said he agreed with the government’s decision, describing it as timely and helpful to the market’s future.
“His decision is a wise decision and a welcome development. His action came at the right time. The order is for our own good. We are fully in support of his action,” he said.
He argued that ending the sit-at-home practice in the market had become necessary because traders and customers were suffering, and the market was losing income each time business activities stopped.
“We have lost so many fortunes since the creation of the Monday sit-at-home in the South-east region. We are fully in support of the governor’s action against the sit-at-home order,” he added.
Traders Were Warned In Advance
The market chairperson also said traders were informed ahead of time that the market could be shut if shops remained closed on Monday.
“To be honest, we were given the closure notification order on Thursday, 22 January 2026, by the Anambra State Government, that if we failed to open our shops on Monday, it would lead to closure,” he said.
Call To “Temper Justice With Mercy”
Even while supporting the closure, Mr Okpalaugo appealed to the governor to show mercy by reopening the market earlier than planned, saying traders were ready to comply with government expectations.
“Our governor, Chukwuma Soludo, is a listening and progressive-minded governor. We strongly believe that, with this appeal, he will consider us and reopen the market for our good because he loves his people,” he said.
He added that market leaders were preparing a formal letter asking the governor to reconsider and reverse the decision.
“We are sending a letter of appeal to him to reconsider us by reversing his decision,” he said.
Mr Okpalaugo also urged traders to stay calm, obey the law and avoid taking actions that could worsen tensions as discussions continue over how to permanently stop sit-at-home disruptions and restore full business activities in the market.