Micro and small businesses in Nigeria’s Southeast are reportedly losing over N4.6 trillion annually due to the crippling impact of weekly sit-at-home protests enforced by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), according to a report by SBM Intelligence.
The report, which assessed the protests’ toll on the region’s economy and security, estimates that the Southeast has suffered cumulative economic losses of over N7.6 trillion over the past four years, with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), market systems, and supply chains significantly disrupted.
SBM noted that the transport sector alone forfeited between N10 billion and N13 billion daily at the height of the sit-at-home orders, leading to widespread losses for drivers, commuters, and logistics operators.
The study relied on data from the SBM Violence Tracker, on-ground surveys, and interviews conducted across the five Southeastern states — Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo — between September and October 2024.
According to the findings, micro-entrepreneurs such as tailors, food vendors, and roadside mechanics experienced income declines ranging from 50 to 70 percent. One respondent, a seamstress, said her monthly earnings dropped from N100,000 to N27,000, highlighting the scale of economic disruption.
While some Point of Sale (POS) agents reportedly gained more customers during the unrest due to limited banking operations, most low-skilled workers faced salary cuts, and many small business owners saw their savings depleted.
Commercial hubs like Onitsha and Aba’s Ariaria market recorded near-total shutdowns every Monday, affecting nationwide supply chains and paralyzing regional commerce. The education sector was not spared either, as school children missed national examinations such as WAEC and NECO, with many schools rescheduling classes to weekends.
“Education is disrupted, with students missing exams and schools relocating classes to Saturdays. Job losses, salary cuts, and collapsed savings schemes deepen poverty,” the report noted.
On the security front, the Southeast has experienced a sharp rise in violence linked to the IPOB’s armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), and other criminal groups exploiting the chaos. Between 2021 and 2025, the region witnessed 776 fatalities across 332 violent incidents.
Imo and Anambra States emerged as epicentres, recording the highest incidents and deaths. Imo reported 130 attacks and 332 fatalities, while Anambra saw 94 incidents and 202 deaths.
Violence peaked in 2024, with 133 incidents and 313 deaths, tripling the numbers from the previous year. Criminal gangs and separatist militants targeted civilians, security personnel, and government infrastructure, further destabilizing the region.
Founded in December 2020, the ESN was created by IPOB as a self-styled vigilante group to protect the Southeast from alleged state neglect and insecurity. However, the group has since been implicated in widespread violence.
The report concluded that 90 percent of Southeast residents oppose the sit-at-home orders, citing severe economic hardship, insecurity, and social disruption as major reasons.
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