Anambra Shuts Nnewi Auto Spare Parts Market Over Sit-at-Home Compliance

Business, Politics

NNEWI, NIGERIA (NPA): The Anambra State Government has temporarily closed the popular Nnewi Auto Spare Parts Market (Nkwo Nnewi) following continued observance of the Monday sit-at-home order in the state. The directive, issued by Governor Chukwuma Soludo through his Special Adviser on Trade and Markets, Chief Evarist Uba, will take effect at midnight on Monday, February 23, 2026.

Uba announced that the market will remain closed for one week, reopening on March 2, 2026, unless traders comply with the state government’s order to resume business every Monday. He warned that further closures could follow if compliance remains low. The government emphasized that the measure is aimed at ending the disruption caused by the sit-at-home protests linked to the detention of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Traders and customers were advised to avoid the market during the closure to prevent clashes with law enforcement.

For years, residents of southeastern Nigeria observed the weekly sit-at-home, which paralyzed economic activity across states including Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Imo. Although IPOB announced the cancellation of the order in February 2026, compliance has been uneven, with many communities still hesitant to return to normal routines. Authorities say the closure of Nnewi’s major market is part of efforts to restore confidence, enforce government directives, and revive commercial activity in the region.