The Anambra State Government has ordered the closure of the popular Nkwo-Ogbe market in Ihiala Local Government Area after traders refused to open for business on Monday March 2, 2026 in defiance of a government directive aimed at ending the weekly sit-at-home order, credible local news outlets report.

The market was sealed for one week by state officials as a punitive measure after traders ignored repeated calls to resume normal commercial activities on Mondays. Authorities say Nkwo-Ogbe was the only major market in the area that had consistently defied the order to open for business, despite similar markets across the state complying with the directive.

Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s administration has taken a firm stance against the continued observance of the sit-at-home order, which had been imposed by separatist groups in the South-East region and was seen as hurting the state’s economy. The government believes that enforcing normal business operations will help restore confidence in the commercial sector and boost economic activity.

Officials said traders at Nkwo-Ogbe market repeatedly locked their shops on Monday despite warnings that failure to resume would lead to closure. The Chairman of Ihiala Local Government, Hon. Anayochukwu Charles Ojiako, said government teams had on several occasions engaged traders and market leaders on the need to comply with the directive but to no avail.

The state government has reiterated that markets must operate as normal throughout the week, and that individuals or market associations that flout the order risk sanctions, including sealing of shops or other enforcement actions. Authorities said the closure is meant to underscore the importance of compliance with lawful directives and to discourage continued boycotts that undermine commerce.