Soludo reopens Nkwo Nnewi Market, shuts Ihiala market over Sit-at-Home

2026-03-02 - 16:57

By Vincent Ujumadu ANAMBRA — Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has reopened the New Motorcycle Spare Parts Market, Nkwo Nnewi, after it was closed for a week due to traders refusing to open on Monday. Meanwhile, Nkwo Ogbe Ihiala Market was shut down on Monday for continued non-compliance. The closure followed low turnout observed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade and Markets, Chief Evaristus Uba, who visited Nkwo Nnewi last Monday and noted that many traders ignored the state government’s directive abolishing the Monday sit-at-home order. The reopening came after the Chairman of Nnewi North Local Government Area, Hon. Echezona Anazodo, visited the market and found substantial compliance among traders. He stated: “I’m happy to observe that traders complied with the order to resume business. If even half of this turnout had occurred last week, the market would not have been shut. Traders who fail to open will have their shops sealed individually. We don’t want a situation where the entire market is closed because of a few defaulters.” In contrast, Ihiala market remained closed for a week after officials discovered that all shops were locked, reflecting total non-compliance with the government’s directive. The state government has reiterated that markets must operate as normal and that individual defaulters will face sanctions to ensure enforcement of the sit-at-home abolition.