Governor Soludo had, during an on-the-spot inspection of the market on Monday, ordered the shutdown after traders and market leaders reportedly defied repeated government appeals to resume business on Mondays, despite the sit-at-home directive issued by IPOB. The state government said the continued sit-at-home had cost Anambra State about N8bn weekly and the South-East region an estimated N19.6bn, disrupting economic and social activities. “The closure is a protective measure for law-abiding citizens,” Soludo said, warning that the market could remain sealed for up to one month if compliance failed. “It is absolutely wrong for the governor to order the closure of the market without proper consultation. The Anambra State Police Command, however, said the security deployment was strictly to maintain law and order.

Source: Punch January 28, 2026 10:11 UTC