The standoff stems from Soludo’s resolve to end the weekly shutdown imposed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in protest against the detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. The policy has crippled commerce in Anambra and much of the South-East for years.

Tension rose last week after the governor ordered the one-week closure of the Onitsha Main Market, directing that it must reopen today. The move triggered protests by IPOB sympathisers and fresh calls for sit-at-home across markets in the region. Security agencies, however, insist that markets will open, with joint deployments finalised to ensure traders operate without intimidation.

Market leaders, following engagements with the governor, have been appealing for calm. A prominent trader, Kezie Nwadiugwu, urged traders to open their shops to avoid harsher government action, warning that continued closure could strengthen the government’s case for demolition and redevelopment. Many traders fear that the planned remodelling of the market could result in the loss of shops, either temporarily or permanently.

Soludo has defended his actions, saying the market has deteriorated badly due to decades of poor planning and repeated sit-at-home disruptions. He said the market has been shut for more than 260 Mondays, costing the state billions of naira and driving customers to neighbouring states. According to him, leadership sometimes demands difficult decisions to secure long-term economic survival.

The governor disclosed that global experts were engaged in 2023 to design a comprehensive rebuilding plan for the 25-hectare market, aligning with his vision of orderly and sustainable urban markets. He insisted that Anambra, one of Nigeria’s largest sub-national economies, cannot function on a four-day business week.

In response, the Chairman of Onitsha Main Market, Chijioke Okpalaugo, assured the government that traders would comply with the directive to reopen today. He said traders had accepted the redevelopment plan but appealed for a brief grace period to evacuate goods from illegal structures before enforcement begins.

What began as an effort to enforce civic order has evolved into a high-stakes confrontation touching on governance, security and livelihoods. Since 2021, IPOB-linked sit-at-home directives have routinely shut down markets, schools and offices, often enforced through fear and intimidation.

Soludo has warned that the government may seal shops and revoke land allocations under the Land Use Act if traders persist. Attendance registers have been introduced in markets, and schools have been directed to operate on Mondays. The Anambra State House of Assembly estimates the sit-at-home costs the state about ₦19.6 billion weekly, with Onitsha Main Market alone losing roughly ₦8 billion.

IPOB has condemned the market closure and declared a region-wide sit-at-home today, describing the government’s action as economic oppression and insisting that only the release of Nnamdi Kanu can end the shutdowns. Meanwhile, security presence remains heavy across the state as elders and stakeholders call for restraint and dialogue.

As the day unfolds, the key question is whether traders will reopen their shops or whether the sit-at-home will once again bring economic life in Onitsha to a standstill.