According to a report by Ripples Nigeria, the sit-at-home directive observed on Tuesday by pro-Biafra agitators to mark 50 years of the Nigerian civil war recorded a huge success as major towns in the South East and parts of South South regions were shut down.
Banks, markets and other business activities came to a halt, with the business community bearing an estimated loss of N6.2 billion in un-executed transactions as businesses and other revenue offices were shut.
Both the organisers of the one-day order and the security agencies said there were no skirmishes during the action, apart from the fact that most streets and shops were deserted.
The N6.2 billion, according to business analysts, is based on national data that Nigeria loses about N46 billion on each holiday it observes, and the regions which took part in the sit-at-home exercise, even as they contend, that the actual losses may be far more.
According to them, with South East and South South being major business hubs of the country, any activity that makes it possible for a total closing down of all sectors, from the two regions can have a huge cost on the national economy.
An Onitsha-based importer, Mr. Peter Duruaku, said the Democracy Day holiday on Monday, which preceded the Tuesday sit-at-home order, added more losses to the business community in the regions.
“I was expecting delivery of my goods on Monday, May 29, but the holiday made it impossible. Then Tuesday’s order came, with both days now compelling me to
