January 27, 2026 | SUNTV Global Channel
The Anambra State chapter of the African Action Congress (AAC) has strongly criticised Governor Chukwuma Soludo over the closure of the Onitsha Main Market, describing the action as punitive, economically harmful, and a clear sign of misplaced security priorities.
The party faulted the state government’s decision to shut the commercial hub for one week, arguing that it unfairly transfers the burden of insecurity onto traders and residents rather than addressing the root causes of the problem.
In a statement issued on Monday, the AAC State Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Anthony, said the closure reflects a widening disconnect between government policies and the daily struggles of ordinary citizens who rely on daily trade for survival.
According to the party, the timing and manner of the decision reveal a pattern of governance that favours control measures over inclusive and sustainable security solutions.
Anthony described the move as unjustifiable and counterproductive, stressing that disrupting lawful economic activity in response to security challenges amounts to punishing citizens for failures that fall squarely within the responsibility of the state.
“This decision, announced without adequate consideration for the welfare of traders and residents, is unacceptable and tone-deaf to the prevailing security realities,” the statement read.
“We question the logic behind shutting down businesses and exposing vulnerable citizens to greater hardship when the government should be strengthening security.”
The AAC also highlighted what it called the unequal experience of security across social classes, noting that political office holders enjoy heavy armed protection while ordinary citizens remain exposed.
“While politicians move around with armed escorts, the common man is left to navigate daily life without protection. Is it fair to punish traders for the state’s security lapses?” the party asked.
The party argued that market closures neither deter criminal activity nor improve public safety, insisting that effective security requires proactive policing, intelligence gathering, and collaboration with local communities—not economic shutdowns.
“Closing markets will not solve crime. What Anambra needs is effective policing and community engagement, not policies that destroy livelihoods,” Anthony said.
Reaffirming its stance, the AAC expressed solidarity with affected traders and residents, stressing that governance decisions must place human welfare at the centre.
“We stand with traders and residents. Their welfare matters,” the party stated.
The AAC’s reaction follows the Anambra State Government’s decision to shut down the Onitsha Main Market, one of West Africa’s largest commercial centres, after traders reportedly failed to open for business on Monday in defiance of the government’s directive abolishing the sit-at-home practice.
In a statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, the government said the closure was a response to what it described as continued defiance by market leaders and traders.
According to Aburime, the shutdown is part of a broader effort by the Soludo administration to reclaim Mondays as normal business days and restore economic activities across the state.
Governor Soludo warned that the government would not tolerate actions capable of undermining its efforts to restore normalcy, describing the situation as “economic sabotage.”
“The government cannot stand by while a few individuals willfully undermine public safety and disregard official directives meant to restore normalcy,” Soludo said.
“If the market does not reopen after this one-week shutdown, it will be sealed for a month, and further sanctions will follow.”
