Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: South-East Nigeria

  • Nnamdi Kanu Permanently Ends South-East Sit-At-Home Directive

    Nnamdi Kanu Permanently Ends South-East Sit-At-Home Directive

    The outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced the definitive termination of the controversial Monday sit-at-home order across Nigeria’s South-east region. According to Premium Times, the group’s leader, Nnamdi Kanu, issued the directive from detention, declaring the cessation of the weekly exercise effective Monday, February 9, 2026. The move is intended to allow for the full restoration of economic activities, educational pursuits, and freedom of movement for residents of the zone.

    Reporting by The Nation indicates that IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, clarified that anyone attempting to enforce a sit-at-home hereafter is acting against Kanu’s direct wishes and will be treated as an enemy of the people. The statement emphasized that there is no longer any justification for the paralyzing weekly lockdowns, which have severely hampered the region’s productivity over the past few years.

    In an update published by The Punch, security agencies have been urged to provide maximum protection for citizens as they resume their normal Monday routines. The publication notes that “the total cancellation is a necessary step to stop the intimidation of our people and ensure that schools and markets can operate without fear.” Validation from Vanguard further confirms this shift, quoting a regional security analyst who stated, “This move, if respected by all factions, could be the turning point for the South-east’s struggling economy.”

    Echotitbits take:

    The cessation of the sit-at-home is a significant relief for the South-east’s fragile economy, which has lost billions of Naira to these weekly closures. However, the real test lies in the enforcement; security forces must ensure that splinter groups or “enforcers” do not continue to terrorize citizens who choose to come out. Watch for whether the Monday morning bustling returns to major markets in Aba, Onitsha, and Enugu today.

    Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/ipob-orders-total-cancellation-of-sit-at-home-in-south-east/, February 9, 2026

    Photo credit: The Punch

  • South East Governors Propose Regional Common Market to Drive Growth

    South East Governors Propose Regional Common Market to Drive Growth

    Figures cited by Champion Newspapers show a renewed push for regional integration as Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State called for the creation of a “South East Common Market.” During a developmental launch where Vice President Kashim Shettima unveiled the Vision 2050 blueprint for the region, Governor Mbah argued that reimagining the five states as a single economic bloc is essential for industrialization. The proposal aims to harmonize trade policies and infrastructure projects across the South East.

    The Vision 2050 blueprint is designed to leverage the region’s entrepreneurial strength while addressing long-standing infrastructure deficits. The Vice President highlighted the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting regional initiatives that align with national economic goals. This collaborative approach is expected to attract significant foreign direct investment (FDI) into the region’s manufacturing and technology sectors.

    The Sun and Leadership Newspaper have also reported on the Enugu summit. The Sun stated that “the governors have agreed to set up a technical committee to oversee the integration process.” Leadership Newspaper quoted a regional trade leader who said, “a unified market will eliminate the double taxation that currently plagues inter-state commerce in the East.”

    Echotitbits take:

    A South East Common Market could be a game-changer for Nigerian internal trade, mirroring the success of the EU on a smaller scale. If the states can successfully integrate their rail and power projects, the region could become the nation’s primary industrial hub. The biggest challenge remains the “sit-at-home” disruptions which must be permanently resolved to ensure the market’s viability.

    Source: DailyTrust – https://dailytrust.com/shettima-unveils-25-year-economic-blueprint-for-southeast/, February 5, 2026

    Photo credit: DailyTrust

  • Igbo Nation Observes First Annual Civil War Thanksgiving Day

    Igbo Nation Observes First Annual Civil War Thanksgiving Day

    Reporting by Vanguard indicates that the Igbo Nation has today, January 31, 2026, commenced its first annual “Day of Adoration and Thanksgiving,” 56 years after the end of the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War. The event, which is intended to be held every last Saturday of January, is a dedicated moment for healing, reflection, and gratitude for surviving the conflict that ended in 1970. Prominent leaders and groups like Ohanaeze Ndigbo have encouraged Igbos globally to use the day for spiritual redirection and honoring fallen heroes.

    The initiative aims to foster unity among the Igbo people and promote a collective vision for the future. Organizers stated that while the war claimed millions of lives, the survival and subsequent economic resilience of the Igbo race deserve a dedicated day of worship. Events are being held in various states across the South-East, as well as in the diaspora, with many seeing it as a way to address the “peace gap” that persisted long after the war’s end.

    The event was also covered by The Punch and Daily Post. The Punch noted that “the thanksgiving is expected to become a major cultural landmark for the South-East,” while Daily Post mentioned that “security was beefed up in major cities like Enugu and Owerri to ensure a peaceful celebration.”

    Echotitbits take:

    This is more than a religious event; it is a strategic move to consolidate “Igbo soft power” and historical memory. Watch for how the federal government reacts to this—whether they embrace it as a national healing process or view it with suspicion as a form of ethnic mobilization.

    Source: Newsexpressngr – https://newsexpressngr.com/news/293623/civil-war-56-years-after-igbo-nation-begins-annual-thanksgiving-today, January 31, 2026

    Photo credit: Newsexpressngr

  • Proposed ‘Anim State’ Gains Momentum Among South-East Leaders

    Proposed ‘Anim State’ Gains Momentum Among South-East Leaders

    Traditional rulers and political leaders in the South-East are reportedly rallying behind the creation of “Anim State” (an Anambra–Imo-derived proposal) as a path to addressing perceived regional marginalization and balancing the number of states across zones.

    Advocacy: Prominent voices are urging various state-creation movements (Anioma, Aba, Adada, and others) to align behind a unified proposal to improve chances of meeting constitutional requirements.

    Political context: Supporters argue the initiative could help reduce political tensions and refocus attention on development, though critics question fiscal viability in the current climate.

    Echotitbits take: State creation is constitutionally demanding and politically complex. Even if momentum grows, economic viability and revenue sustainability will be the decisive hurdles, especially under tight federal allocations.

    Source: Daily Post – https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/25/additional-state-will-bring-development-to-south-east-not-division-imo-monarch/ (January 25, 2026)

    Daily Post 2026-01-25

    Photo Credit: Daily Post

  • Anambra Police Probe Deadly Attacks

    Anambra Police Probe Deadly Attacks

    Police in Anambra State have launched investigations after separate violent incidents left multiple casualties, with early indications pointing to organised criminal or cult-linked elements in at least one location.

    Security sweeps were reportedly intensified to prevent reprisals and restore public confidence.

    Source:Punch, 2025-12-08