The member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Afam Ogene, has appealed to Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, to reverse the decision to shut the Onitsha Main Market for one week.

In a statement, Ogene warned that the closure, ordered as part of the state government’s push to end the Monday sit-at-home, risks inflicting severe economic pain on traders and undermining Anambra’s commercial standing.

He argued that while the state’s determination to restore normal economic activity is understandable, the method adopted could prove counterproductive. According to him, the directive has already triggered widespread public anger and protests in Onitsha, effectively paralysing a city that serves as a key commercial and transit hub for the South-East and South-South.

Ogene faulted the government for not first embarking on extensive public sensitisation and engagement with market leaders. He said the administration should have used the relatively peaceful festive period to demonstrate improved security and build confidence for a gradual, consensual end to the sit-at-home culture.

Citing available estimates, the lawmaker noted that Onitsha Main Market loses about ₦8bn every Monday it is shut. Extending that disruption to a full week, he warned, would magnify losses for traders, transporters and allied businesses, with ripple effects on state revenue.

He also highlighted the vulnerability of traders dealing in perishable goods, many of whom stand to lose their entire stock. Such an outcome, he suggested, runs contrary to the governor’s training as an economist and his stated commitment to growing Anambra’s economy.

Beyond local concerns, Ogene stressed that Onitsha’s status as a regional trading hub means the closure could strand visiting merchants from across West Africa, sending the wrong signal to potential investors at a time Nigeria is seeking to attract foreign capital.

He urged Soludo to immediately open channels of dialogue with market associations, security agencies and community leaders, with a view to designing a more measured approach that secures public order without crippling livelihoods.

Ogene proposed a phased reopening of the market ahead of the one-week deadline, coupled with sustained engagement and security assurances, to ease tensions, reduce economic losses and restore public confidence in government policy.