‘We’ll Take Over Shops That Remain Closed’: Soludo Warns Traders Over Sit-at-Home Disruptions

Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has warned traders who continue to shut their shops during sit-at-home days that the state government will take over business premises that remain closed, insisting that prolonged market shutdowns are harming the state’s economy and security.

Speaking during an address on Wednesday, Soludo said the government would no longer tolerate intermittent closures of markets, which he described as a major setback to productivity, job creation, and income generation across the state.

According to the governor, repeated market closures deprive the economy of a significant number of working days each year, with direct consequences for livelihoods.

“It is about our security. When you deny about 20 per cent of productive workdays in a year, you weaken prosperity, delay job creation, and reduce incomes,” Soludo said. “This should be clear to everyone.”

He said the government had shown restraint in previous years but would now adopt a tougher approach.

“In 2022 and 2023, we were actively confronting these challenges. In 2024 and 2025, we exercised patience. In 2026, we are moving to a stricter enforcement phase,” he stated. “Anyone who closes their shop, we will assist them by keeping it closed for the next week.”

Soludo warned that traders who persist in locking their shops risk losing their business spaces entirely, adding that such premises would be reassigned to those willing to operate.

“If you like holidays, we will help you take them. But going forward, we will take those shops and give them to people who are ready to use them. We have the authority to do so,” he said.

The governor stressed that the state has legal powers to revoke ownership of market spaces in the public interest and said these powers would soon be enforced.

“Markets cannot claim exemption by saying they are private. I have the authority to revoke ownership in the public interest, and we will begin deploying this in the coming weeks,” Soludo added.

While he said the government remains open to discussions with market leaders, he made it clear that reopening shops is not subject to negotiation.

“We are open to dialogue, but keeping shops open is not negotiable,” he said.

As an initial sanction, Soludo announced that any shop found closed from Monday would be sealed for at least two weeks. He added that authorities are monitoring major markets across the state, including Onitsha Main Market and the building materials market.

“The main market, building materials market, Head Bridge and others are under close watch,” he said.

The governor disclosed plans to meet with market leaders to restate the government’s position and expectations.

“I am meeting with their leadership again tomorrow,” he said.

He concluded with a final warning, noting that continued closure of Onitsha Main Market would attract the strongest response from the government.

“If it remains closed again, we will shut it down completely. After the initial two weeks of sealing shops, we will begin taking some of them over,” he said.

Earlier, Soludo ordered the closure of Onitsha Main Market for one week as part of efforts to stop traders from observing sit-at-home orders, particularly the Monday directive.

The move sparked protests across parts of the state, with traders and residents taking to the streets. Some protesters sang solidarity songs and expressed support for IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, accusing the government of targeting ordinary citizens rather than addressing underlying concerns.