Sit-At-Home: Ogbaru Main Market Stakeholders Move To Seal Shops Not Opened On Mondays

By Chuks Eke—

Stakeholders at Ogbaru (Relief) Main Market have reiterated their resolve to seal all shops and lines in the market that are not open for trading activities on Mondays, as they say the era of Monday sit-at-home is now over in the market.

President of Ogbaru Main Market Traders Association, Chief Ndubuisi Ochiogu, who disclosed this to newsmen shortly after an enlarged meeting of the stakeholders and Chairmen of all the market Lines, said all the traders in the market have been advised to open their shops for trading activities on Mondays to avoid inconveniencing customers.

Ochiogu, who insisted that insecurity is no longer an excuse for any trader in the market not to come to market and open his or her shop on Mondays, further disclosed that adequate security arrangements have been made to guarantee the safety of all and sundry.

He noted that although customers do not come from far places on Mondays to patronize the traders as they do from Tuesdays to Saturdays, traders in the market known for the sale and distribution of provisions, beverages, and other consumables are in a vantage position to make sales on Mondays once they open their shops.

According to him, “we deal in provisions, beverages, and other consumables, and customers do come from Onitsha, Ogidi, Nkpor, Obosi, and its environs to patronize us on Mondays.

“I must confess that we have at least 20 percent of patronage on Mondays due to the absence of our customers from outside Anambra state, and the idea is to make them understand that there is no more fear to open our shops and markets on Mondays henceforth”.

On the security arrangements, Ochiogu declared, “We have the Okpoko police station located very close to the market, and the officers are cooperating with us.

“We equally have men of Operation Udo Ga Achi security outfit, OCHA brigade, State Anti-Touting Squad SASA, and our market vigilante operatives surrounding the market environment for security purposes on Mondays. So, security of our lives and goods and that of our customers is 100 percent guaranteed”.

Earlier on Monday, the Anambra State government ordered the closure of the New Auto Spare Parts Market, Nkwo-Nnewi, in the industrial city of Nnewi, for one week following traders’ failure to comply with the state government’s directive to stop Monday sit-at-home.

The order for the closure was handed down on Monday, during an on-site visit to the market, by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade and Markets, Chief Evarist Uba.

Uba was in company with the state Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, and Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, AVM Ben Chiobi (rtd), and the Chairman, Nnewi North Local Government Area, Echezona Anazodo.

According to him, the order was handed down on behalf of the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, adding that the market may face further closure if compliance is not substantial by next Monday, when the market reopens.

He said that despite repeated warnings and assurances of enhanced security and appeals to reclaim public spaces, many traders at the busy market once again chose to keep their stalls locked.

He, therefore, advised traders and customers to avoid the market until next Monday to avoid issues with law enforcement agents.

He said, “The Anambra State Government hereby informs the general public that the New Auto Spare Parts Association Market, Nkwo Nnewi, is closed for business.

“The market, whose date of closure is effective from midnight today, Monday, February 23, 2026, will reopen next Monday, March 2, 2026.

“The closure of the market followed low compliance with the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s order to end Monday sit-at-home in Anambra State.

“Traders and customers are advised to avoid the market until next Monday to avoid having issues with law enforcement agents.

“The market may face further closure if compliance is not substantial by next Monday, when the market reopens.”

Meantime, normal activities have resumed in Anambra State on Mondays following the governor’s order late January 2026