Traders, transporters, commuters and residents across Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu have welcomed the gradual return of commercial and social activities on Mondays following the cancellation of the sit-at-home order by the government. They made the commendation separately while responding to a survey.
The sit-at-home order, primarily observed on Mondays, was occasioned by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, in 2021, to protest the detention of its lynchpin, Nnamdi Kanu. It was also observed on the days when the IPOB leader would appear in courts for his trials.
Economic activities were halted on the days the orders were observed as no one was allowed to carry any transaction intra and inter states. Anyone found to flout the orders was either killed or attacked to submission.
The weekly lockdown has significantly hindered businesses, particularly the small and medium enterprises and transport in major commercial hubs like Onitsha and Aba and the country at large as movements were restricted into the South-East.
Meanwhile, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo have banned the practice with a view to restoring economic activities in the zone but fear of attacks continues to drive compliance in various parts of the zone. Additionally, Mr Kanu, through its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, recently announced the ban.
A survey in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu showed increased business activities compared with previous Mondays since the ban, although patronage remained below pre-restriction levels.
Governor Peter Mbah had in June 6, 2023 declared an end to the sit-at-home in Enugu, disclosing that such order restricts creativity, entrepreneurship and productivity.
Despite the cancellation of the practice, surveys showed that some residents continued to observe it in a modified manner. Some residents revealed that they had adopted Mondays as a personal rest day, especially self-employed individuals who work throughout the week.
In Enugu, while offices, schools, banks and markets now open on Mondays, the level of economic activity remains lower compared to other days.
Some transport companies had also resumed full operations on Mondays such as Peace Mass Transit, Young Shall Grow Motors, Autostar and ATM.
A trader at the Ogbete Main Market, Obiora Okoye, said the market usually opened for business on Mondays, but patronage was often low.
“Government and market executives cannot force any trader to open shop on Mondays,” Mr Okoye said, noting that many traders now make personal decisions about whether to operate on Mondays or not.
“To some, there is no need of spending money on transport to come to the market without sales. They preferred to stay at home on Mondays and begin business for the new week on Tuesday due to fear of poor patronage.”
Another trader, Rosemary Agbo, explained that although shops opened, customer turnout was always minimal. According to her, sales on Mondays have remained low since the sit-at-home began due to low patronage by customers
“I now use the day to rest after trading from Tuesday to Saturday. Sundays are for church, cooking, washing and meetings,” she said.
A human rights advocate, Larry Oguego, said, “So, if we want to stop sit-at-home, we should not be addressing only the instruction to it, we should also be addressing the habits that have been formed, which is not good for business. I think we should focus on changing old habits and encouraging people to restore Monday to a normal day.”
“We cannot calculate the loss. Some institutions put it at $57 trillion in the past four years, that’s still an estimate. Nobody can calculate the loss. It’s a huge mistake that was made by the Southeast, and I hope that we will recover from that mistake one day.”
Some residents of Nsukka in Nsukka LGA have commended the cancellation of the Monday sit-at-home, which they said, will restore full business activities in the South-East on Mondays.
David Ugwuoke, a proprietor of a private secondary school in Nsukka said the sit-at-home had adversely affected many businesses, schools and other economic activities.
Mr Ugwuoke said some of his students in SS3 in 2024, who were afraid of coming out on Mondays, missed a subject in the National Examinations Council exam.
Florence Nnadi, a trader at Ogige Market, Nsukka, said, “We all want the federal government to free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu but closing businesses, schools and government offices on Mondays in the South East will not contribute in any way, rather it will make the zone to continue to lose billions of naira every Monday.”
Richard Ozioko, a lawyer and rights activist, expressed disappointment that security agencies have not helped the situation as they have continued to remain in their offices and stations on Mondays.
“In Nsukka on Mondays, you will not see any police traffic warder in any junction or see police, civil defence or any other security personnel even Federal Road Safety Corps on any road. This makes some residents believe that their safety is not guaranteed on Mondays,” he said.
In Anambra, traders in Onitsha and Nnewi markets, recently opened for business following Governor Charles Soludo’s executive fiat.
February 16 was the third week, traders and some residents would obey the Anambra government’s directive.
As of 8:30 a.m., only a few shops were opened, but by 10:00 a.m., more traders began to display their goods while security personnel maintained patrols within and around markets to reassure traders and customers of their safety.
Chizube Okalla, a trader, said, “We are beginning to see more customers return, and we hope the confidence will continue to grow in the coming weeks.”
Cletus Ikpechi, a building materials dealer, noted that if people resumed “their normal shopping routine on Mondays, it will greatly help small-scale traders who rely on daily income to keep their businesses running”.
A foodstuff seller, Christopher Iloanya, appealed to residents to sustain the renewed activities.
Similarly, Chinasa Egwim, a clothing dealer, said improved patronage would restore economic vibrancy.
During visits to major markets, government officials including the chief of staff to the governor, Ernest Ezeajughi, information commissioner Law Mefor, and the special adviser on trade and marketing commended traders for complying with government directives. They reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining security for full restoration of Monday’s economic activities.
Transport operators also indicated readiness to support the arrangement. Union leaders, Anthony Okwugo and Vincent Ukwuoma, made the pledge during a meeting convened by the Anambra State Ministry of Transport in Awka.
They appealed for strengthened security presence and adequate fuel supply to support seamless transportation, noting that improved mobility was encouraging residents to resume work and business activities.
Commuters interviewed expressed relief at the availability of transport services, saying that movement to workplaces and schools had improved after prolonged disruptions.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, Vera Nwadinobi, monitored compliance in public schools and urged parents to allow children to return to classes on Mondays.
She said that most teachers were present in schools visited, attributing low pupil turnout in some areas to parents’ hesitation, and assured residents of adequate safety measures.
Residents across major towns expressed hope that consistent participation by traders, transporters and commuters would permanently end disruptions and restore full economic activities on Mondays.
However, some commercial banks in Awka and surrounding areas shuttered earlier than the official closing time.
While economic activities have resumed in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi capital, it is a different scenario in rural areas as many residents still felt scared to venture out on Mondays.
Collins Alumaa, a driver of Enugu North Mass Transit stated that it operated on Mondays but only during the daytime.
Mr Alumaa said, “Who told you that the order had been lifted. Our company do not operate mostly on Mondays but we schedule between 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to move from Abakaliki if need be.
“If the order has been lifted, it will have positive effect with strict monitoring by security agencies to avoid any potential attack or risk from gunmen.”
Wilson Okereke, a resident, disclosed that a patent medicine seller was warned by masked men to desist from operating his business on Mondays to avoid potential attack.
“Just this Monday, February 16, at my local government area, I was told that a chemist was warned by gunmen to stay clear on Mondays,” Mr Okereke said.
(NAN)
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