Commercial activities returned strongly to Onitsha Main Market on Monday, as traders and shop owners opened for business in a development many described as a significant shift from the long-standing Monday sit-at-home routine.
For years, the market had remained largely inactive on Mondays following the sit-at-home directive introduced in August 2021 by the Indigenous People of Biafra.
However, observations across the market showed a different atmosphere, with trading resuming early in the day. By about 8:30 a.m., business activities were already in full swing in major sections, including Emeka Offor Plaza, Lagos Line, Ado Line, Mandela Line, and White House Line.
Other areas such as the Fashion Line, Children’s Wear Line, Accessories Line, Egerton–Ose Foodstuff Market, and Young Park also witnessed significant turnout, as traders displayed their goods and attended to customers.
Nearby markets, including Ochanja and Relief, equally recorded increased commercial activities, with traders conducting transactions and customers moving around more freely than in previous Mondays.
Security personnel were visible around the market, though not in the heavy numbers seen the previous week.
The presence of operatives appeared to provide reassurance for traders and buyers.
Some traders expressed optimism about the development, describing it as a welcome return to economic normalcy.
A trader at Emeka Offor Plaza, Michael Igwe, said the reopening of Monday trading could help restore lost income and revive business opportunities.
He noted that Monday had traditionally been one of the most profitable days for traders and expressed hope that the renewed activities would be sustained.
Despite the improvement, the impact of the sit-at-home order was still evident in parts of the city, as several banks, petrol stations, and some schools in Onitsha remained closed, while vehicular movement on major roads was relatively low.
