Minus for economy as Biafra order sees partial compliance in Lagos, Kano, full in S/East, PH
…Economy loses about N1.5tn transactions today, …Order observed in 76 countries across all continents
Whereas there has been no report of violence or clashes with security agencies, business and economic analysts have started putting together indices of negative impacts of the Sit-At-Home order being observed today, Tuesday May 30 by members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). Details from several international media outfits show that the order was complied to in over 76 countries spread across all the six continents where Igbos live.
Momentary checks by Business Hilights Correspondents in parts of the country today present minimal levels of compliance in Lagos and Kano, especially in markets dominated by Igbos, while there are indications of massive compliances in virtually all major cities and markets in the five South East states of Imo, Abia, Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi with patches in Rivers, Kogi, Benue and mainly Delta where Igbos are also citizens.
It would be recalled that the Indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB, and the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, had called for a sit-at-home today in the south-east to commemorate the declaration of Biafra by late Chukwuemeka Ojukwu some 50 years ago.
In several markets within Onitsha, Owerri, Afikpo, Enugu and Aba, Ogbaete Enugu, there were total compliance as banks, schools and streets were deserted as at mid day, meaning total lockdown.
In Lagos, some key market officials who spoke on grounds of anonymity to Business Hilights said even though they are not part of the deal, some of their traders who wished to sit at home are at their own liberty, but markets are moving on smoothly in all markets dominated by Igbos in Lagos and Kano states.
Additional reports from South East revealed that the sit at home order even affected schools as several public schools were deserted.
In Port Harcourt, south-south Nigeria, there was also a high level of compliance according to a resident.
A staff of the one of the new generation bank who spoke to our correspondent in Owerri on ground of anonymity said “Going by the high level of compliance to the order, the ailing economy will lose serious money today”.
“If I may gaze, Igbos sitting at home today means that about N1.5 trillion may not exchange hands today and that is a huge loss to the economy. Don’t forget, we are just coming from a long stretch of holiday since Friday to yesterday, Monday which was Democracy Day and today again no business. It’s a huge loss to an economy that is expected to recover fast from recession.
