SOUTH-EAST LOST OVER 20% OF ECONOMY YEARLY TO SIT-AT-HOME CRISIS – SOLUDO
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
Governor Charles Soludo has revealed that the South-East may have lost more than 20 per cent of its economy annually during the five-year sit-at-home crisis, describing the period as one of severe economic, political and institutional strain for the region.
Soludo’s disclosure has sparked renewed reflection on the far-reaching impact of the Monday shutdowns, which began as a political protest but gradually degenerated into widespread disruption, violence and economic paralysis across the zone.
A 20 per cent yearly loss, analysts say, translates into shuttered shops in Onitsha, deserted markets in Aba, empty classrooms in Owerri and stalled factories in Nnewi. The prolonged disruption reportedly resulted in lost jobs, shrinking incomes, declining tax revenues and deepened poverty in a region already grappling with infrastructure deficits and capital flight.
The sit-at-home directive was initially linked to agitation surrounding the detention of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). In its early stages, compliance was largely voluntary, driven by solidarity and protest against perceived marginalisation.
However, the movement later morphed into coercion, as armed groups allegedly enforced compliance through attacks on businesses, arson, and assaults on residents who defied the order. Observers note that the crisis blurred the line between political agitation and organised criminality.
Security experts have pointed to a lack of coordinated response among the five South-East governors during the peak of the crisis. While some states relaxed enforcement measures, others adopted stricter security approaches, resulting in fragmented messaging and enforcement gaps.
Criminal elements reportedly exploited porous inter-state boundaries, operating from forested areas that cut across state lines. Without harmonised intelligence-sharing and joint operations, enforcement efforts were said to be inconsistent.
In Anambra State alone, authorities recently reported the dismantling of 62 criminal camps — an effort observers describe as significant but belated.
Beyond security lapses, analysts identify deeper structural vulnerabilities that sustained the crisis. These include political alienation among youths, economic fragility driven by heavy reliance on small and medium-scale enterprises, and high unemployment levels that made young people susceptible to recruitment by criminal networks.
Experts argue that security crackdowns alone will not prevent a recurrence. Instead, they recommend a multi-pronged strategy addressing governance, economic resilience and youth empowerment.
Stakeholders are urging the South-East Governors’ Forum to evolve into a more operational body capable of coordinating security and economic policy across state lines. Proposed measures include joint intelligence task forces, shared surveillance systems and harmonised legislation.
There are also calls for structured political engagement with non-violent agitators, while clearly isolating and prosecuting criminal elements.
At the federal level, President Bola Tinubu has repeatedly emphasised national security as a priority. Analysts say closer collaboration between Abuja and the South-East — through targeted investments, judicial reforms and visible federal presence in infrastructure and appointments — could help counter narratives of marginalisation.
Economic recovery has also emerged as a priority. Experts advocate tax incentives for affected businesses, expanded credit facilities for SMEs, and investment summits to rebuild investor confidence.
They further stress the importance of civic education campaigns to dismantle what many describe as the “psychological grip of fear” that sustained compliance with the shutdowns.
As the region begins to stabilise, observers say the end of the sit-at-home enforcement must mark the beginning of structural reforms.
“The lesson is clear: insecurity thrives where coordination fails,” one analyst noted.
For the historically entrepreneurial South-East, stakeholders believe unity among governors, sustained economic reforms and constructive engagement with dissenting voices could transform a painful chapter into a turning point for long-term stability and growth.
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