Traders and residents in Onitsha, Anambra State, staged a protest on Wednesday by blocking the busy Onitsha Head Bridge following the government’s shutdown of the Onitsha Main Market. Videos circulating on social media showed protesters barricading the bridge, chanting slogans, and preventing movement into and out of the commercial city.
The protest came after Governor Chukwuma Soludo ordered a one-week closure of the market. The shutdown is part of efforts to end the long-standing Monday sit-at-home order, which has disrupted business activities in the area.
Protesters, many of whom are traders directly affected by the closure, marched along the bridge and raised placards expressing their frustration with the directive. The demonstration halted traffic on the major highway connecting Onitsha to neighbouring states, causing delays for motorists and commuters.
Security operatives, including police and paramilitary personnel, were deployed around the market to enforce the closure. Reports indicate that tensions escalated at points, with minor scuffles as officers tried to prevent traders from opening their shops.
Governor Soludo has maintained that the market closure is necessary to restore normal economic activity in Onitsha and warned that further defiance could result in extended shutdowns and stricter enforcement measures.
The protest highlights the ongoing tension between government authorities and traders over the sit-at-home directive, with calls for dialogue growing louder to prevent further disruption in one of Nigeria’s busiest commercial hubs.
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