Anambra is back: No more Monday sit-at-home — Prof. Soludo

Business, Cityscope, Politics

POLITICS (NPA) — March 10, 2026: Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has declared an end to the long-standing Monday sit-at-home order that disrupted economic and social life in the southeast for nearly five years. The governor expressed delight at the return of normalcy, noting that schools, markets, and offices across the state now operate fully on Mondays.

The directive, issued last month, mandated schools, markets, and government offices to resume Monday activities, effectively countering the protest linked to the detention of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

On March 9, Soludo toured ten primary and secondary schools across the state, observing classes in session. “I am very happy, I must say. I have visited ten schools, including private schools. I’m very pleased. The schools are back, the markets are back, and the civil servants are back. The southeast cannot be different from the rest of the world. The southeast is back. Anambra is back, and we are rising,” he said.

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In a statement accompanied by video footage of his visits, the governor celebrated the resilience of teachers and students. “I was excited to see our kids back in class, learning and thriving! No more Monday sit-at-home in Anambra State! To our teachers, you are heroes. Your dedication is inspiring. Pupils, keep soaking up knowledge — the future is yours!”

Soludo emphasised that the state had moved past excuses, declaring: “It’s time to reclaim our Mondays and build a brighter Anambra.”

Earlier, the government had temporarily shut down the popular Nnewi Auto Spare Parts Market (Nkwo Nnewi) after traders continued to observe the sit-at-home order despite official directives. The closure, announced by Soludo’s Special Adviser on Trade and Markets, Chief Evarist Uba, took effect on February 23, 2026.

With schools, markets, and civil service offices now open, the governor’s push appears to have restored confidence and economic activity in Anambra, signalling a turning point in the region’s efforts to move beyond years of disruption.