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00:00Once it goes down every Monday, Enugu city is slowly shaking off the shadows of the sit-at-home
00:06order. For over four years, the south-eastern region of Nigeria had adjusted to a new normal,
00:12empty streets, closed businesses and silent neighbourhoods. All in protest of the arrest
00:19and detention of the leader of the indigenous people of Biafra, Inamdi Kanu.
00:26Following Kanu's arrest, a sit-at-home directive took hold, an expression of solidarity and for many,
00:34a fearful compliance with a call that came without compromise. But today, change is in the air.
00:44Across parts of Enugu, signs of normalcy are beginning to surface. In busy neighbourhoods
00:50like GRE and New Haven, some business owners have chosen to reopen their doors while customers
00:57trickle back in. For many, the sit-at-home directive has gradually transformed from a day of protest
01:05to a day of personal choice. Some residents now treat Mondays as unofficial rest days,
01:12following the spiritual and social commitments of their Sundays.
01:16When this whole sit-at-home thing started, nobody was sure what was going on or who was commanding
01:23or who was giving the instruction. And some Mondays were terrible. I mean,
01:28nothing was open until maybe four o'clock of that day. You know, people came out, tried to do businesses,
01:36some miscreants, I don't know, hoodlums, who chased them around. Some would come and open fire,
01:41either in the market or in the park. You know, so people became afraid to come out, you know. So
01:48every Monday, people would just sit back till four o'clock. On that day, you see young men playing
01:53football all over the place because there's nothing else to do. And no one to, you know, say,
02:00hey, go to work. Everybody was like at home most of the time. And people were actually scared
02:05because somebody knew where this thing was going at the end of the day. They said it had to do with
02:10iPob, Nambikano, you know. But we kept on looking and watching and observing
02:16to see where this thing was going at the end of the day. So gradually, gradually, you know,
02:21the governor of the state, he put his foot down. And likewise, some other eastern governors,
02:27they put their foot down because at the point it became clear that this was not just about agitation
02:34of Biafra, that the criminal elements had infiltrated the whole thing. And they were
02:40using it as a cover. Today is Monday. Before, it used to be sitting at home. The last four years,
02:48the new governor said they should stop it. So people come out. Some people come out,
02:54some people say at home. Because Monday say at home has entered some people's mind
02:58of racing in the house. That's the reason. You see some people come out, some people just race
03:04for racing's sake. That's the only truth about it. The economic activities is as good as
03:13everything has been grounded down. Now, let me give you a right, a simple analysis.
03:19Because only keke riders in Enugu states here, environment, on daily basis, they generate over
03:29close to 200 million. So you can imagine 200 million out from keke riders on a Monday,
03:38being the first working day of the week. Check out the impact. I'm not classifying other remote
03:45areas as well. What I'm just giving you estimate is just the metropolis, Enugu metropolis. You can see
03:51that, in fact, it was kind of like people went, like people were dying. They're not so that,
03:59no, no, no, no, no, they have to step up their game. Even on the IGRA of the state government too.
04:04I know Monday sit at home has actually impacted negatively. But with the new indices the government
04:14put in place with respect to you don't fail to come to work is being deducted from your salary.
04:19I think that has helped to boost the IGRA of the state.
04:27Despite the growing confidence, not all businesses have reopened. Some shops remain closed on Mondays,
04:33reflecting the cautious optimism that defines this transition period.
04:38Fear still lingers for a few, but it is no longer the defining emotion.
04:48The Enugu state government, keen to revitalize the economy, has continued to encourage residents
04:54to return to their normal routines. Through public statements, security assurances,
04:59and engagement with community leaders, authorities are working to dismantle the culture of enforced
05:05shutdowns. Officials believe that restoring full Monday activity is key to boosting local commerce,
05:12and reassuring investors that the region remains open for business.
05:19As Enugu stands at a crossroad between memory and momentum, the return to NoMRC is not just about
05:26businesses reopening. It is about a community gradually reclaiming its sense of security,
05:32resiliency, resilience, and everyday life.