Conflict and Economic Development in Southeast Nigeria: A Study of IPOB Sit-at-Home Order (2015–2025)
Abstract
This study investigates how conflict, exemplified by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) sit-at-home order, affects economic development in Southeast Nigeria between 2015 and 2025. A qualitative research design was employed, combining in-depth interviews, focus-group discussions, and document analysis. Findings reveal that the repeated Monday lockdowns and symbolic protest days have significantly reduced economic productivity across the region: business output declined by about 35 percent, household income by 40 percent, and labour- market participation by 20 percent, amounting to an estimated ?7.6 trillion loss from 2021 to 2025. The study concludes that the sit-at-home order, though intended as a non-violent protest, has evolved into a coercive routine undermining regional growth. It recommends constructive dialogue between the Federal Government and IPOB, the release of Nnamdi Kanu, and targeted recovery measures to rebuild investor confidence and livelihoods.
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