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| Commissioner Of Information, Anambra State, Law Mefoh. |
By Oluchi Sylvanus Omai
ANAMBRA, Nigeria — The Anambra State Government says the persistent observance of the so-called sit-at-home on Mondays is exacting a significant toll on the state’s economy, costing an estimated ₦8 billion each week in lost commercial activity.
Law Mefoh, Commissioner for Information, made the disclosure on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief. According to Mefoh, the practice enforced by non-state actors in parts of the South-East has transitioned from being regarded as a response to security fears into what he described as an “extension of the weekend” for traders, undermining economic normalcy.
Mefoh’s remarks followed Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s controversial decision to close the Onitsha Main Market widely regarded as one of West Africa’s busiest marketplaces for one week. The governor took the step after visiting the market on Monday and finding that most traders had kept their shops shuttered, defying government directives to resume business.
“We are bleeding revenue,” Mefoh told the broadcaster. “While the initial sit-at-home was driven by fear, that fear has dissipated yet the practice persists. Traders now treat Mondays as part of the weekend, and that’s damaging.”
The commissioner stressed that the closure of Onitsha Main Market was not a unilateral decision by the governor alone but the result of a resolution by the State Executive Council to curb disruptions to commerce. He added that more than 150 markets across Anambra will be closely monitored, with similar sanctions applied if they too remain closed on Mondays.
Government officials have framed the sit-at-home tradition as “economic sabotage”, arguing it discourages investment, inflates the cost of goods and services, and dissuades both residents and outsiders from engaging in otherwise routine commercial activities.
However, the state’s approach has drawn a mixed response. Some traders have voiced frustration at the market closure and the imposition of heavy security at key entrances, asserting that many had stocked goods and were ready to trade if assured of personal safety. Others, though fewer in number, expressed support for the government’s stance, saying compliance with state directives outweighs adherence to unofficial orders.
The conflict highlights the complex interplay between security, governance and grassroots economic behaviour in the region. While authorities insist that Anambra is “safe for business” and that fear should no longer dictate market closures, many traders and residents remain wary, underscoring deep-seated challenges in restoring full economic confidence.
Governor Soludo’s office has warned that repeated defiance of reopening directives could prompt even stricter measures, signalling a growing willingness to use state power to enforce compliance. Analysts say how the situation unfolds in the coming weeks particularly whether traders return on the next Monday could have broader implications for economic policy and social cohesion in the state.
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