What Monday Sit-At-Homes Cost the South-East – And Why It Matters Now

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What does Monday really cost the East?, by Stephanie Shaakaa" is an opinion piece published on Vanguard News (a major Nigerian newspaper) on or around January 30–31, 2026.

It examines the economic and social impact of the recurring Monday sit-at-home orders in Eastern Nigeria (primarily the South-East region, including states like Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia, and Ebonyi). These orders, often enforced or observed due to directives from groups like IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) amid ongoing security concerns, separatist agitations, and fears of violence, result in widespread shutdowns every Monday.

Every Monday, economic activity is deliberately suspended: Markets remain closed, schools shut down, banks and offices stay dark, transportation grinds to a halt, and businesses lose an entire day of operations.

The piece questions the true cost of these disruptions to the region ("the East"), stripping away emotional or ideological framing to focus on honest economic realities—lost productivity, income, livelihoods, and broader development stagnation.

It calls for a straightforward assessment without "romance or theatrics," highlighting how repeated shutdowns compound poverty, deter investment, and affect daily life in a region already facing challenges like insecurity and infrastructure issues.

This ties into recent events, such as IPOB declaring specific Monday lockdowns (e.g., February 2, 2026, as a "Biafra-Wide Lockdown") and government responses like market closures enforced by authorities (e.g., Anambra's Governor Soludo ordering Onitsha Main Market shut for non-compliance).

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