Title: Disruption and Development: The Effects of IPOB's Sit-at-Home Order on Socio-Economic Transformation in Anambra State (2021-2024).
Authors: Uzor, Obiora Anthony
Volume: 9
Issue: 5
Pages: 135-142
Publication Date: 2025/05/28
Abstract:
This paper examines the effects of the Indigenous People of Biafra's (IPOB) sit-at-home order on socio-economic transformation in Anambra State, Nigeria, between 2021 and 2024. Initially introduced as a symbolic act of civil disobedience to demand the release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, the sit-at-home order evolved into a recurring disruption enforced through intimidation and violence by non-state actors. Using content analysis of secondary data, media reports, and academic literature, the study explores how this directive has impacted key sectors such as commerce, education, transportation, and public service delivery. This study is anchored on the Conflict Theory as propounded by Karl Marx and developed further by contemporary sociologists. Also, the study adopts a qualitative research design, specifically using content analysis to investigate the socio-economic impacts of IPOB's sit-at-home order in Anambra State from 2021 to 2024. Findings reveal that the sit-at-home order significantly affects the delivery and accessibility of public services in Anambra State. The study concludes that that IPOB's sit-at-home order, though rooted in political protest, has had far-reaching and largely negative implications for socio-economic transformation in Anambra State between 2021 and 2024. It recommends that: to mitigate the impact of future disruptions on public services, the state should develop and implement a Public Service Continuity Framework, including remote learning infrastructure for schools, telemedicine platforms for healthcare, and protected transport corridors for essential workers during civil unrest.