NANTS URGES SOUTHEAST TRADERS TO END THE MONDAY "SIT-AT-HOME" — IT HARMS LOCAL PEOPLE, NOT THE GOVERNMENT. - The National Association of Nigerian Traders NANTS

The National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) today appeals directly to Governments,
traders and market leaders in Nigeria’s South-East geo-political zone to discontinue the weekly Monday
“sit-at-home” observance. NANTS notes that what began as a political protest in solidarity with the
detained leader of a separatist movement has long ceased to achieve its stated aim, yet continues to inflict
severe economic and social harm on ordinary traders, market workers and households across the region.
THE SAD REALITY AND OUR SAD OBSERVATIONS:
On a positive side NANTS observes that through effective reasoning and dialogues, the sit-at-home
practice, including the spate of insecurity has started dwindling in the South-East geo-political zone, and

this is clearly noticeable with the huge return of Ibo sons and daughters to the South-East during the just-
concluded 2025 Christmas celebration, and the quiet and peaceful conduct of the festive period in the

entire zone during the season.
Regrettably, the recent deployment of force in closing Onitsha main market by Governor Soludo of
Anambra State, a clear manifestation of mis-governance, show of power and the lack of tact and
diplomacy which can only spur and aggravate monumental reactivation of the wounds and a reminder to
the South-East traders of the failure of South-East political leaders to galvanize and assert noble efforts
towards the release of their son, Nnamdi Kalu. Soludo’s action is a further mark of failure, a direct
affront to the traders and entire people of South-East, and indeed, a reminder that unlike Sunday Ogboho
who has just recently been accorded pardon and has returned from exile in Germany courtesy of the
South-West political leaders, Nnamdi Kalu should remain in incarceration, perhaps because of the
conspiracy and or indolence of some power-drunk and vision-less South-East leaders. The closure of
Onitsha main market lacks wisdom but amounts to nothing but pouring petrol on fire. The Governor’s
action could trigger traders bold resistance/fight back, but is also capable of significantly drawing the
attention, sympathy and solidarity of their peers in other South-East States thereby provoking and
reawakening the dwindling sit-at-home practice and other vices associated with insecurity.
The NANTS National body also notes that beyond the closure of Onitsha market, we have observed that
some Security Agencies in the South-East are part of the complications, reason being that rather than
secure and facilitate easy movement of transporters, persons, goods and services, they concentrate on
toll collection and constitute obstacles to the free flow and movement in the region even on Mondays.

2
The National Association of Nigerian Traders, therefore call on Governor Soludo to deescalate
tension in Anambra State, consider the path of wisdom and withdrawal of force, and reopen the

Onitsha main market immediately. We further call on Security Agencies in the South-East to de-
emphasize ‘settlement and toll collection’ and improve security oversight and seriousness that will

encourage traders to come out for their business on Mondays without fear of molestation and
treat to life.
FURTHER CALL ON GOVERNMENTS AND SECURITY AGENCIES:
NANTS further calls on Federal and State Authorities, Relevant Security Agencies, and particularly, all
Governors of the Sout-East States to:
i. Quickly come together, emulate the South-West leaders by putting every political machinery in
motion to facilitate the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kalu from prison.
ii. Think out of the box by exploring possible incentives such as mandating all government
contractors and suppliers to undertake their procurement in local markets only on Mondays.
This can constitute a subtle way of appealing to traders, transporters and the overall economic
operators to re-tool Monday market operations.
iii. Convene consultative meetings with NANTS key leaders in the South-East, other traders Unions
and market leaders with a view to:
a) identifying the unknown gunmen that terrorize traders from opening their markets and
shops on Mondays,
b) identifying ways and means of addressing the general insecurity issues responsible for traders
keeping away from markets on Mondays.
c) Devising and supporting immediate measures on the roads and market places that protect
traders and transporters to ensure that markets can be safe on Mondays.
iv. Investigate and address threats or coercion used to enforce sit-at-home observances, and
protect citizens’ right to trade and move freely.
v. Commission rapid economic relief and IGR-recovery plan for major trade hubs
disproportionately affected (Onitsha, Aba, Nnewi, Owerri, Orlu, Enugu, etc), and coordinate
with market Associations to reduce further losses.
vi. Refrain from harsh-tone and authoritative pronouncements that order traders back to markets
without their consultations, inputs and adequate measures in place.
APPEAL TO OUR TRADERS AND MARKET LEADERS:
Having stated the above, while we await the re-opening of the market, NANTS wishes to talk to her
members and all traders across the South-East. The National Body, recognize the right to peaceful
protest as succinctly enshrined in Chapter 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We
also recognize that the people of the South-East have legitimate grievances to express. However, it is our
strong opinion that the Monday sit-at-homee is enemical to our chosen profession and bad to economic
we being it will continued to produce immeasurable and unquantifiable harm to the region’s economy and
on our everyday people – the traders.
Recurrent Monday shutdowns disrupt the busiest trading day of the week for many South-East market
days on which perishable goods are moved, supply chains are scheduled, and incomes for thousands of
traders, market women and transporters are earned. When markets close, daily wages and petty incomes
are lost immediately by mostly traders and their dependents.
Furthermore, our research and intelligence reports estimate very large cumulative economic losses
across the South-East since the observance began including (i) multi-trillion-naira losses to commerce, (ii)
reduced income to traders and internally generated revenue for states, (iii) lost jobs for SMEs and
deterred investments, (iv) worsened insecurity, (v) interruption of schooling and healthcare access on
closed days, (vi) increased cost of doing business (price shocks, spoilage, supply interruption, (vii)
reinforced climate of fear that drives away long-term investment and stalls local economic recovery.
Moreover, NANTS have further observed that out of fear and insecurity associated with the sit-at-home,

traders who come in from far and wide, including foreign traders from most West and Central African
countries have been largely discouraged to enter South-East zone for their business transactions. These
reports show the effect is on the region’s businesses and citizens, and not on the Federal Institutions the
action intends to influence.
Specifically, NANTS wonders why sustained Monday shutdowns have not demonstrably changed federal
government policy nor produced the public outcomes the original organisers sought. Instead, the burden
falls squarely on traders, daily wage earners, customers and vulnerable families who depend on open
markets and transport every week. Research and local reporting repeatedly indicate that the economic
pain is borne locally by our members in South-East. The plain fact is that the government which is the
target of the sit-at-home has remained adamant and unmoved, hence, the need for wisdom, retreat and
change of tactics.
In view of the foregoing observations, NANTS therefore appeals to all traders and Market leaders in the
South-East to:
i. Work towards ending the weekly Monday sit-at-home observance and allow markets to operate
on Mondays as normal.
ii. Collaborate with community leaders, Local Government and Security Agencies to insist on safe,
lawful protest channels that do not halt commerce or threaten livelihoods.
iii. Prioritise market recovery plans including coordinated re-opening drives, market-level security
arrangements and public information that restores buyer confidence.
iv. Review actions that are peaceful and social and economic hurt-free options for expressing their
grievances against the government’s continued incarceration of the IPOB leader.
COMMITMENT FROM NANTS
NANTS is fully committed to, and stands with traders. We will continue to:
i. Advocate for the immediate end of the Monday sit-at-home and for policies that protect traders’
livelihoods.
ii. Partner with market leaders, civil society and Local Governments to mobilise practical steps for
safe market operations and economic recovery.
iii. Expose and report any coercive actors who use force or intimidation to enforce shutdowns,
while promoting peaceful, lawful means of redress.
iv. Engage in concerted advocacy and campaigns for return and restoration of lost customers,
particularly, foreign traders who have lost faith in South-East markets.
v. Collaborate with Governments to ensure effective representation of traders in all policy making
processes.
“We call on our brothers and sisters in the South-East to choose livelihoods over shutdowns. The time
to rebuild our economy which is largely anchored on commerce and secure our markets is now for the
sake of families who depend on Monday trade.”
Signed:
For: National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS)

Barr Benjamin Izuchukwu Uzuegbu
Legal Officer, NANTS – Abuja Hqtrs