Anambra State Government says it loses about ₦8 billion every week due to the continued observance of the Monday sit-at-home, with losses across the South-East estimated at ₦19.6 billion weekly.
The disclosure was made on Monday by the Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, while announcing the one-week closure of the Onitsha Main Market for defying government directives to resume business activities on Mondays.
The market will remain closed from January 26 to January 31, 2026 and will reopen on February 2, 2026. Residents have been advised to stay away from the area, as security personnel have been deployed to enforce the closure.
The government warned that traders who fail to reopen on subsequent Mondays risk a one-month shutdown, stressing that all other markets across Anambra State are expected to operate fully on Mondays.
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The Monday sit-at-home was introduced in August 2021 following the arrest of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu and, despite a later suspension by the group, has continued in parts of the South-East due to fear and intimidation, severely disrupting economic activities in the region.
What began as a solidarity measure gradually evolved into a climate of fear. Enforcement shifted from voluntary compliance to coercion, with reports of intimidation by non-state actors and armed groups. Many residents now remain indoors on Mondays primarily out of concern for their safety rather than political alignment.
Although IPOB has at various times announced a suspension or easing of the directive, observance remains widespread in several communities. Lingering insecurity and the activities of armed enforcers continue to discourage defiance. As a result, markets, schools, offices and transport services often shut down at the start of each week, especially in major commercial hubs such as Onitsha.
Mounting Economic Losses
The economic impact has been severe. Independent assessments estimate that the South-East may have lost about ₦7.6 trillion over four years due to the recurring shutdowns. Onitsha — home to one of West Africa’s largest markets — has been among the hardest hit.
Research by the Anambra State Chamber of Commerce and academic studies indicate that weekly closures have weakened local revenue generation, disrupted supply chains and driven up the cost of essential goods. Many micro, small and medium-scale enterprises either operate below capacity or suspend activities entirely on Mondays to avoid potential violence.
Earlier estimates also suggest that Anambra alone records billions of naira in losses every Monday, affecting traders, transport operators and a wide range of informal sector workers whose livelihoods depend on daily commerce.
Broader Social and Institutional Effects
Beyond immediate financial losses, the repeated shutdowns are eroding economic stability. Predictability is central to healthy markets, and frequent disruptions undermine investor confidence, reduce productivity and constrain job creation. Public institutions are also affected, as banks, schools and government offices experience operational slowdowns that hinder service delivery.
Government Pushback Intensifies
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has taken a firmer stance against the sit-at-home practice, rejecting it as a legitimate form of protest. During a recent visit to the Onitsha Main Market, he criticised traders who continue to close shops despite official directives, arguing that prolonged shutdowns damage the state’s economic life.
The state government’s decision to enforce a one-week market closure — alongside warnings of progressively stricter sanctions if normal trading does not resume — signals an escalating effort to reassert authority. According to the governor, the move is also a test of who ultimately determines “time and economic life” in the South-East.
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