Governor Charles Soludo has issued fresh warning to traders in Anambra State, adding that they risk paying heavy penalties if they continue to observe the Monday sit-at-home.
The governor issued the warning during a recent engagement with traders.
He also warned that any shop sealed as a result of non-compliance would attract a N20 million fine, while individuals who reopen sealed shops on their own would also be fined an additional N20 million.
He said, “Any trader who refuses to open their shop on Monday and it gets sealed will pay 20 million Naira. If you unseal it yourself, you pay another 20 million.”
Meanwhile, the announcement comes amid the government’s ongoing efforts to end the Monday sit-at-home order, which has often disrupted business activities in the South-East.
In February 2026, the Soludo administration also shut Onitsha Main Market for a week after traders allegedly continued to obey the directive.
The govt deployed Security personnel, including soldiers and police officers to enforce the closure and seal the market entrances.
Subsequently, after the suspension period, the governor issued a new order allowing the market, widely regarded as the state’s biggest commercial hub, to reopen.
BACKSTORY…
Recall that the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), led by Nnamdi Kanu, imposed the sit-at-home order in South-East Nigeria in 2021 to demand his release. As the directive quickly spread across the region, it forced markets, schools, and transport systems to shut down regularly.
However, in November of 2025, a federal high court in Abuja sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment, a development that further influenced tensions surrounding the separatist movement.
On its part, the Anambra State government has repeatedly condemned the practice, urging residents to disregard the order and continue lawful activities.
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