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The Anambra State government has announced a compulsory attendance register for traders in all markets across the state, as part of a broader effort to restore full economic activity and end the long running practice of Monday market shutdowns.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo issued the directive on Thursday during a high level meeting with market leaders, line chairmen, and other stakeholders at the International Conference Centre in Awka. Attendance was taken at the meeting, which followed the recent closure of the Onitsha Main Market and growing concerns over compliance with government directives.
Under the new policy, daily attendance will be taken in each market by line leaders, while chairmen of local government areas will collect the registers every Monday by 10 a.m., the governor said.
Soludo explained that the measure is aimed at ensuring accountability within market leadership and helping the government understand the scale and impact of recurring market closures on the state economy.
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He said the state was not seeking confrontation with traders but rather cooperation to keep markets open and functional throughout the week.
During the meeting, the governor described the current state of the Onitsha Main Market as unacceptable, noting that it no longer reflects the commercial importance of the area.
Soludo disclosed that his administration is considering a complete redevelopment of the market, including the possibility of demolishing the existing structure and replacing it with a newly designed facility.
According to him, the proposed plan would include modern infrastructure such as well laid out walkways, organized motor parks, and improved trading spaces. He added that a design proposal for the market had been submitted to him more than three years ago and was still under review.
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Soludo expressed concern over the persistence of Monday closures, saying the practice no longer aligns with present realities in the state.
He noted that while many residents carry out normal activities on Mondays, markets and shops remain shut, creating unnecessary economic losses.
The governor recalled leading a delegation of prominent Igbo leaders, including Professor Pat Utomi, to the Kuje Correctional Centre to meet with Nnamdi Kanu over the sit at home directive.
According to Soludo, Kanu later instructed his legal team to publicly dissociate him from the enforcement of Monday shutdowns.
“There is no justification for locking up markets, especially when the Onitsha Main Market alone has over 150 security personnel,” the governor said during the meeting.
He questioned the logic of economic disruption, asking how people could claim to be defending the region while damaging its commercial base. “If you cannot do business in Anambra, there are 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory where you can operate,” Soludo added.
While acknowledging that traders have the right to decide whether to open their shops, the governor warned that the government also has the authority to take action where public assets are concerned.
“Traders may choose not to open their shops, but I also have the right to revoke the land on which those shops stand if they refuse to operate on Mondays,” he said.
Soludo assured market leaders that the government would increase security presence in and around major markets on Mondays to address safety concerns.
“We will work with you and allow security personnel to stay with you for weeks if necessary. Security is not only about weapons, it is also about resolve and mindset,” he said.
The state government says it will continue engaging market unions, transport operators, and security agencies to ensure compliance with the new directives.
