The party made the assertion while condemning the decision by Governor Chukwuma Soludo to shut the commercial hub, arguing that the move shifts the burden of insecurity to traders rather than addressing its root causes.
The Anambra State chapter of the African Action Congress (AAC) has faulted the state government’s approach to security management, warning that the closure of the Onitsha market reflects a growing disconnect between policy decisions and the daily realities of ordinary citizens.
The party made the assertion while condemning the decision by Governor Chukwuma Soludo to shut the commercial hub, arguing that the move shifts the burden of insecurity to traders rather than addressing its root causes.
In a statement issued on Monday, the AAC’s State Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Anthony, said the directive to close the market failed to take into account the economic and social implications for residents who depend on daily trade for survival.
According to the party, the timing and manner of the announcement underscore what it described as a pattern of governance that prioritises control measures over inclusive security solutions.
Anthony said the decision was unjustifiable, stressing that it is counterproductive for a government to disrupt lawful economic activity in response to security challenges. He stated that the action effectively punishes citizens for failures that fall within the responsibility of the state.
The statement partly read, “This decision, announced without adequate consideration for the welfare of traders and residents, is unacceptable and tone-deaf to the security.
"We question the logic behind closing businesses, thereby exposing vulnerable citizens to greater risks, when the state should be prioritising security."
The AAC further highlighted what it described as inequality in the experience of security across social classes, noting that while political office holders enjoy heavy protection, ordinary people are left exposed.
“While politicians move around with armed escorts, the common man is left to navigate life’s challenges without adequate protection. Is it fair to punish traders for the state’s security lapses?."
The party argued that shutting down markets neither deters criminal activity nor enhances public safety, insisting that sustainable security requires proactive policing and collaboration with local communities rather than economic shutdowns.
"Governor Soludo should focus on addressing insecurity rather than jeopardising livelihoods. Closing markets won’t solve crime; effective policing and community engagement will.”
Reaffirming its position, the AAC declared its support for those affected by the closure, insisting that governance decisions must place human welfare at the centre.
"We stand with traders and residents. Their welfare matters,” the party stated.
Previously, SaharaReporters reported that the Anambra State governor, Prof Soludo, ordered the immediate closure of Onitsha Main Market for one week following the refusal of traders to open for business on Monday in line with the state government’s directive abolishing the sit-at-home practice.
The development was disclosed on Monday in a statement by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Aburime, who said the decision followed what the government described as continued defiance by the leadership and traders at the market.
Onitsha Main Market, regarded as one of the largest commercial centres in West Africa, has been a focal point in the state government’s campaign to end the long-standing Monday sit-at-home tradition in the Southeast.
According to Aburime, the shutdown is “more than an administrative penalty,” describing it as part of a broader effort by the Soludo administration to reclaim Mondays as normal business days and restore economic life across the state.
Governor Soludo was quoted as saying that the government would not tolerate actions capable of undermining its efforts to restore normalcy.
“The government cannot stand by while a few individuals willfully undermine public safety and disregard official directives meant to restore normalcy. This is plain economic sabotage. We are not going to allow this,” the governor said.
He warned that tougher sanctions would follow if the market fails to comply after the one-week closure.
“If the market does not reopen for business after this one-week shutdown, it will be sealed for a month. And so on and so forth,” Soludo added.