FOLLOWING HIS gifts of cash and cars to military officers, Governor Francis Nwifuru has urged the Nigerian Army to bolster its plans to lift the sit-at-home order in the South East.
Nwifuru made the call when Oluyemi Olatoye, the newly appointed general officer in charge of 82 Division, paid him a courtesy call on Saturday.
To improve the morale of officers and troops working to combat instability in the area and beyond, Mr Nwifuru also asked security forces to implement a reward system.
“I am sure you are familiar with the South-East geopolitical environment. God has been with us alongside the good military officers deployed to our state. We will continue to support you and have confidence in those serving here.
“We have shown our support by giving cash and even car gifts to some officers.
“You must intensify efforts to end the sit-at-home orders often declared by non-state actors in the South-East region,” the Ebonyi governor explained.
Mr. Olatoye acknowledged the governor for his assistance to the military and promised to work with him going forward to keep the state law orderly.
“Our visit is to enhance my understanding of the operating environment, sector challenges, and the future of the command. It will also strengthen inter-agency cooperation.
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“I appreciate your efforts in ensuring that all agencies are well coordinated for better outcomes. I was informed of the cash rewards given to some of our outstanding men.
“I sincerely appreciate the honour and respect you have for the military,” the GOC said.
Counting the Cost: Nigeria’s Massive Economic Losses to Sit-at-Home Orders
Microbusinesses in South-East Nigeria lost N5.375 trillion ($12.215 billion) as a result of wasting 71 Mondays between August 9, 2021, and December 19, 2022, according to an investigation.
The region’s implementation of Monday sit-at-home workouts was the cause of the losses. The self-declared liberation movement known as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) started the Monday sit-at-home exercise on July 30, 2021, but on January 12, 2022, they took it back.
But the Monday sit-at-home exercise appears to be established to stay, resulting in reduced revenue and a decline in investor confidence in the region.
The research claims that the sit-at-home exercise costs the region’s microbusinesses N4.618 trillion ($10.495 billion) a year.
One hundred and ten micro businesses were interviewed for the story over the period – of 22 from each of the five states of South-East Nigeria. Each of the businesses disclosed how much they made every Monday before the sit-at-home exercise began in the South-East. The results were extrapolated using the official data of the National Bureau of Statistics/ Small and Medium Enterprises Developnent Agency to calculate how much micro businesses in the region lose/ have lost.
Nigerian businesses were divided into four groups by the survey: nano, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
The reporter focused on nano and micro enterprises, which account for 38.413 million, or 96.9 percent, of Nigeria’s 39.654 million MSMEs. According to the poll, the reporter spoke with businesses involved in commerce, agriculture, and small-scale services. Most of them worked in the unregulated and untaxed informal economy.
The SMEDAN/NBS study states that Anambra State has 1.297 million micro/nano businesses, whereas Abia State has 764,844.
