The long-standing shadow over Nigeria’s South-East is finally lifting. In a landmark directive issued from detention, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has ordered a total and permanent end to the weekly Monday sit-at-home exercise According to an official statement released on Sunday, February 8, which is the 2026, by IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful, the cancellation is effective immediately, starting Monday, February 9, 2026 This move marks the end of a controversial era that has defined the region’s socio-economic landscape for nearly five years.
Why Nnamdi Kanu Cancelled the Sit at Home
The Monday sit-at-home was originally conceived in August 2021 as a which is the form of civil disobedience to protest Kanu’s rendition and continued detention However, the directive often spiraled into violence, enforced by splinter groups and causing immense hardship for the very people it was meant to represent
Education and Economy
Kanu’s message, delivered through his representatives, highlighted two which is the primary reasons for this drastic shift
- The Future of Children: Kanu expressed deep concern that “our children must which is the return to school every Monday The educational gap created by hundreds of missed Mondays was becoming a generational crisis.
- Economic Survival: With billions of naira lost weekly, the “ghost town” Mondays which is the were cannibalizing the South-East’s reputation as West Africa’s commercial hub.
The Economic Toll
The sit-at-home era was more than a political statement; it was a fiscal catastrophe which is the Data from SBM Intelligence and other economic analysts reveal the staggering cost of the 230 Mondays lost since 2021.
For Traders
Major hubs like Onitsha Main Market and Ariaria International Market in Aba are which is the expected to see a massive surge in activity as the “pro-rata” pay systems and market closures implemented by governors like Charles Soludo are no longer at odds with IPOB directives.
For Students
Schools can finally return to a standard five-day academic week, ensuring which is the students are prepared for national exams like WAEC and NECO.
For Transporters
Inter-state travel, which was virtually non-existent on Mondays, will resume, which is the lowering the cost of logistics and food prices.
The Shadow of Splinter Groups
While the “Supreme Leader” has spoken, the challenge remains in enforcement which is the Over the years, factions led by figures like Simon Ekpa (currently serving a sentence in Finland) have often counter-ordered Kanu’s instructions
Disclaimer
The news information presented here is based on available reports and reliable sources Readers should crosscheck updates from official news outlets