Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has warned that the state government will begin taking over shops and markets that remain closed due to sit-at-home orders, insisting that there will be no further negotiations on keeping businesses open.
Speaking on the economic and security implications of the sit-at-home practice, Soludo said the policy has continued to hurt productivity and prosperity in the state.
“This is about our security. If you deny 20 per cent of the working days in a year, you are dampening our prosperity—jobs that should be created and incomes that should be earned,” the governor said.
He noted that the government had exercised restraint in previous years but would now take a tougher stance.
“In 2022 and 2023, we were busy fighting all of this. In 2024 and 2025, we were very patient. But in 2026, we are turning on gear four,” Soludo declared.
The governor warned that any shop or market that remains closed would face sanctions, including temporary shutdowns or outright takeover by the government.
“Anybody who closes their shop, we’ll help you close it for the next week. If you like holidays, we’ll help you. But going forward, we will take those shops from you and give them to people who are ready to use them,” he said.
Soludo stressed that the government has the legal authority to revoke ownership of markets and commercial spaces in the public interest.
“Markets cannot remain closed because they are in private districts. I have the power to revoke ownership in the public interest, and we will deploy this power in the coming weeks,” he said.
While noting that the government remains open to dialogue, Soludo insisted that compliance is non-negotiable.
