SOLUDO CRACKS DOWN: Nnewi Auto Spare Parts Market Shut Over Monday Sit-At-Home Compliance

SOLUDO CRACKS DOWN: Nnewi Auto Spare Parts Market Shut Over Monday Sit-At-Home Compliance. The Anambra State Government has taken a decisive—and controversial—step in its battle against the persistent “Monday Sit-At-Home” order. Governor Chukwuma Soludo has officially ordered the closure of the Nnewi Auto Spare Parts Market (popularly known as Nkwo Nnewi), sending shockwaves through the state’s industrial hub.This move comes after repeated warnings from the administration that the continuous closure of businesses on Mondays is crippling the local economy and undermining state authority.Why the Sudden Shutdown?The government’s stance is clear: Economic sabotage will no longer be tolerated. Despite the official cancellation of the sit-at-home order by various factions, many markets in the Southeast have remained ghost towns on Mondays due to fear and lingering compliance.The closure of the Nnewi market—one of the largest of its kind in West Africa—is seen as a “stick” approach to force a return to full economic activity.The core issues cited by the administration include:Economic Loss: Billions of Naira are lost weekly in Nnewi, a town built on trade and manufacturing.Revenue Impact: The state’s Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) takes a hit when major hubs remain inactive.Security & Sovereignty: The government views the adherence to the illegal order as a challenge to the state’s power to protect its citizens.The Legal & Economic ImplicationsUnder Nigerian law, specifically the Public Order Act and the various Trading and Market Edict laws of Anambra State, the Governor holds significant powers to regulate market activities for the sake of public order and economic welfare. However, this move raises a few talking points:”The government has the right to regulate trade, but the challenge remains the ‘fear factor.’ Traders aren’t staying home because they want to; they are staying home because they are afraid for their lives.”