Absence From Market on Mondays To Attract #20m Fine
..as New Parts Market Nkpor Warns Traders on New Anambra Market Law 2026
By Uzo Ugwunze
The traders of New Auto Spare Parts Market, Nkpor in Idemili North LGA have been warned on the dire consequences of leaving their shops closed on Monday in observance of any form of sit at home order by non state actors.
Addressing the traders at the market hall during an emergency meeting held on Thursday 21st May, 2026, the Chairman, Chief Stephen Ofoleh (Award) stressed on the need for traders to resume their normal business activities from Monday to Saturday to avoid violating the Anambra State Market law 2026 recently passed by the Anambra State House of Assembly prohibiting absence from market in observance of sit at home order by non state actors.
According to Ofeleh, the essence of this emergency meeting is to inform every trader in this market about the new development which was the outcome of an emergency meeting held yesterday between His Excellency Prof Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State and the leadership of 41 major markets which he tagged ‘ Market of Significant economic and security interest in Anambra’.
“We do not want any member of New Auto Spare Parts Market Nkpor to fall victim of the Anambra State Markets law 2026 which was passed by the State Assembly in March earlier this year.
“The soft copy and hardcopy of the Anambra Market Laws 2026 which will be enforced starting from Monday 25, 2026 is now available in our market platforms for everyone to access, down load, print or photocopy.
“It partly reads: “There are 41 markets of significant economic and security interest in Anambra State. This law gives the Anambra State Government the right to control these 41 markets wether it was originally established by the government/public or built by private individuals. The State Government must consent to major decisions in the market through the Anambra State Ministry of Commerce.
“The Governor may under his command designate as area of economic and security interest in any market that impacts economically on the State.
“Particularly concerning the Monday Sit at Home order:The Mayor of Idemili North LGA, Chief Stanley Nkwoka ( Ochendo Idemili) has also witnessed that New parts Nkpor have been complying on the No more Sit at Home directive by Governor Chukwuma Soludo since this year but that not withstanding it is no longer going to be business as usual for the insignificant few still defying the Governor’s directive.
“By this law you have no right to lock up your shop saying that you are the owner of your shop to do what you like.
“If government comes here on Monday and discovers that your shop is closed they will seal it up. Your duty is to meet with government in the Anambra State High Court. Your shop will be under lock and key for the duration of the court case and when found guilty you will pay the sum of 20 million naira.
“Moreso, in a situation whereby a defaulter removes/breaks the seal on his shop to gain entrance, he or she is required to pay additional 20 million naira as fine making it a total of #40 million naira.
“If you decide to plea bargain, you can settle out of court by paying the sum of between 5 million naira to 10 million naira.
“The fine will be split between the state and local government. So, the Mayors would be happy to commence enforcement because it would benefit them.
“Henceforth, From Monday to Saturday market opens by 7am to close by 5:,30pm daily. Make sure you are in your shop by 7am on Monday and stay till 5:,30pm the time of closure especially on Mondays because the monitoring team can come at any time,” said Ofoleh.
Ofoleh said that even in a situation of burial ceremony by a whole block or market line as a result of the death of a trader, permission should be sought earlier and approved by government before the shop closure of that particular line/block.
He further informed the traders on the new directive to generate an accurate biodata of every trader in the market which will be copied and submitted to both the local and state governments.
However, several traders frowned at the directive to be in the market by 7am on Mondays complaining of coming from far distance and non availability of commercial transport but the Chairman assured them that Governor Chukwuma Soludo has seriously engaged commercial drivers and truck owners on the need to corporate with the state Government laws in the interest of Ndi Anambra.
