Normal business activities resumed at the Onitsha Main Market on Monday as traders reopened their shops after a one-week closure ordered by the Anambra State Government.

The market was shut last week on the directive of Governor Chukwuma Soludo after some traders allegedly failed to comply with the state government’s instruction to ignore the Monday sit-at-home order.

The governor gave the order during an on-the-spot visit to the market, warning that the closure could be extended if traders continued to observe the sit-at-home directive. Security agencies were deployed to seal the market during the shutdown.

By Monday morning, activities had picked up significantly within the market. As early as 8:45 a.m., traders were seen opening shops across major sections including Lagos Line, Ado Line, Mandela Line, White House Line, Marine, Emeka Offor Plaza, Sokoto Road, Egerton area, Ose Foodstuff Market, and The Young Park. Observers noted that more than 70 percent of shops were open by 9:30 a.m., with buying and selling going on smoothly.

“It is clear that the traders are complying with government directives to ignore the sit-at-home order,” a Channels Television report observed during a visit to the market.

Security presence remained heavy as personnel patrolled different parts of the market to ensure safety as traders returned to business.

A trader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “We are here because the government has assured us of security. We cannot continue to lose our daily income.”

Despite the activity inside the market, the situation was different on major roads in Onitsha. Areas such as the Onitsha-Owerri Road, Upper Iweka, and Mkpikpa Road were largely deserted, with minimal vehicular movement. Major motor parks also remained closed.

The reopening followed warnings from the state government and security agencies against compliance with directives from non-state actors.

The Indigenous People of Biafra had earlier called for a sit-at-home across the South-East in solidarity with Onitsha traders. However, IPOB’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, dismissed the lockdown call as fake, describing it as “a calculated falsehood” and urging the public to ignore it.

The Anambra State Police Command also warned residents against misinformation spread on social media. “The Police Command has identified a deliberate pattern of coordinated social media posts aimed at spreading fear and panic among the public,” the statement said.

The police added that such actions were intended “to undermine public confidence and disrupt the peace currently enjoyed in the state,” while urging residents to rely on verified information and report suspicious activities.

“Members of the public are advised to disregard unverified social media content being propagated by non-state actors and to report any suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police formation,” the statement said.

Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace and public safety in the state, as the Anambra State Government assured traders of full security coverage with the gradual return of economic activities.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has instituted a lawsuit against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited over its alleged failure to properly account for N22.3bn, $49.7m, £14.3m and €5.2m in oil revenue.

The development was disclosed in a statement released on Sunday by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

The lawsuit follows allegations contained in the 2022 audited report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, which was published on September 9, 2025, and detailed several cases of unaccounted payments, abandoned projects, and questionable financial dealings by the national oil company.

In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/195/2026 and filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is asking the court to issue an order of mandamus directing the NNPCL to explain how the funds were spent or to recover them.

SERAP urged the court to “direct and compel the NNPCL to account for the alleged missing or diverted N22.3bn, $49.7m, £14.3m and €5.2m oil money.”

The organisation also asked the court to compel the company to “disclose the specific financial transactions carried out in respect of the alleged missing or diverted funds, including details of disbursement, the contractors involved and other individuals who collected the money.”

According to SERAP, the allegations point to longstanding accountability lapses within the NNPCL.

“The diverted or misappropriated oil revenues reflect a failure of NNPCL accountability more generally and are directly linked to the institution’s continuing failure to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability,” the organisation stated.

SERAP further noted that the alleged disappearance of the funds has had serious implications for Nigerians.

“The allegations have also undermined the economic development of the country, trapped the majority of Nigerians in poverty and deprived them of opportunities,” it said.

The organisation argued that granting the reliefs sought would help check impunity and rebuild public confidence in the management of Nigeria’s oil resources.

“Granting the reliefs sought would strike a blow against the impunity of those responsible for the missing or diverted oil money and ensure that the money is returned for the sake of NNPCL’s victims, Nigerians,” SERAP said.

In its court filings, SERAP pointed out that the Auditor-General had consistently raised alarm over missing oil revenues over the years.

“The Auditor-General has for many years documented reports of disappearance of oil money from the NNPCL. Nigerians continue to bear the brunt of these missing oil funds meant to provide essential public services,” the organisation stated.

SERAP also maintained that tackling corruption in the oil sector would significantly reduce poverty levels.

“Combating the corruption epidemic in the oil sector would alleviate poverty, improve access to basic public goods and services, and enhance the ability of the government to meet its human rights and anti-corruption obligations,” it said.

The suit, filed by SERAP’s legal team, Oluwakemi Agunbiade and Valentina Adegoke, cited several examples from the Auditor-General’s report, including payments for contracts allegedly abandoned, inflated, or carried out without proper documentation.

“The diverted or misappropriated oil revenues have further damaged the already precarious economy and contributed to very high levels of deficit spending and borrowing by the government,” the lawyers stated.

They added, “Despite the country’s enormous oil wealth, ordinary Nigerians have derived very little benefit from oil money primarily because of widespread grand corruption, including in the NNPCL, and the entrenched culture of impunity of perpetrators.”

SERAP concluded that the allegations amount to “a grave violation of the public trust and the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, national anti-corruption laws, and Nigeria’s international obligations.”

No hearing date has been scheduled for the case.

The Federal Government has approved the acquisition of two new communication satellites to enhance Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and support President Bola Tinubu’s ambition of growing the economy to one trillion dollars.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja during a press conference held to commemorate Global Privacy Day 2026, organised by the Nigerian Data Protection Commission.

Tijani described the approval as a major shift in Nigeria’s digital strategy, noting that the country currently stands out in West Africa as lacking active communication satellites, a gap the new satellites are expected to fill.

He said, “As you know, Mr President has been very clear about his ambition to build a $1tn economy, and digital technology is central to achieving that vision.
“But I think most importantly, one that might come out to wrap your mind, that the President has now approved that we should procure two new satellites.

Nigeria today is the only country in West Africa with non-communication satellites. And we have been given the go-ahead to procure two new ones, ensuring that we can use that satellite to connect.”

The minister also disclosed that significant progress has been recorded on the Federal Government’s flagship 90,000-kilometre fibre optic backbone project aimed at expanding broadband access nationwide.

According to him, about 60 percent of the fibre optic project has already been completed, while funding for the remaining phase has been secured.

“The 90,000 kilometres fibre optic project is not a dream. About 60 per cent of the work has already been completed, and the funding for the project is secure. As we bring more Nigerians online, connectivity without protection is incomplete. Privacy is the foundation of trust, safety, and sustainability in the digital world.

“The success of Nigeria’s digital economy will depend not just on infrastructure and talent, but on trust, and the NDPC remains central to building that trust,” he said.

Tijani stated that the Tinubu administration is positioning digital technology as a critical driver of inclusive economic growth, improved public service delivery, and long-term national development.

He added that the government is also investing in digital skills development, rural connectivity, and institutional reforms to support the digital economy.

The minister stressed that expanding connectivity must go hand in hand with stronger data protection measures, especially as Nigeria’s young and digitally active population continues to grow.

He described the Nigerian Data Protection Commission as central to the country’s digital transformation, emphasising that trust and privacy are essential to sustaining innovation.

Tijani also noted that President Tinubu demonstrated early commitment to data protection by signing the Nigerian Data Protection Commission Act into law shortly after assuming office.

Meanwhile, the National Commissioner of the NDPC, Vincent Olatunji, said Nigeria’s data protection sector has grown into a N16.2 billion industry, generating thousands of jobs and boosting investor confidence.

Speaking at the same event in Abuja, Olatunji attributed the sector’s growth to stricter regulation following the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.

He disclosed that the sector has generated over N5.2 billion in compliance revenue and created more than 23,000 jobs across the country.

According to him, compliance oversight now spans both the public and private sectors, with 38,677 Data Controllers and Data Processors of Major Importance registered under the law, alongside 307 licensed Data Protection Compliance Organisations.

He added that 8,155 compliance audit returns have been submitted so far, while 246 data breach investigations have been concluded, resulting in 11 enforcement actions, including fines and remediation directives.

Olatunji said the commission recently issued the General Application and Implementation Directive to clarify enforcement procedures, while the Data Protection Act has also been translated into three major Nigerian languages to improve public understanding.

He noted that Nigeria’s strengthened data protection framework has enhanced the country’s attractiveness to foreign investors, as independent data protection authorities are now a key requirement for cross-border business partnerships.

The commissioner revealed that Nigeria has gained international recognition, winning the Picasso Award for Best Data Protection Authority in Africa and securing membership in bodies such as the Global Privacy Assembly and the Network of African Data Protection Authorities.

On capacity building, he said the commission has organised 168 training programmes with more than 104,000 beneficiaries, launched the first National Data Protection Officer Certification Examination, certified 494 professionals, and introduced youth-focused digital privacy initiatives.

He explained that these achievements form part of activities lined up for the 2026 National Privacy Week, scheduled to hold from January 28 to February 4, with the theme, “Privacy in the Age of Emerging Technologies: Trust, Ethics and Innovation.”

Outlining priorities for the year, Olatunji said the commission will intensify enforcement of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, including sanctions against non-compliant organisations.

He added that the NDPC will scale up nationwide awareness to deepen public understanding of data protection and privacy, while also providing clearer guidance and hands-on support to organisations on best practices.

He further stated that capacity building will be strengthened through the certification of professionals under the National Data Protection Officer Certification programme to align Nigeria’s data protection standards with global best practices.

Separately, the Nigerian Communications Commission has announced plans to leverage satellite technology to expand mobile coverage to an estimated 23.3 million Nigerians who remain underserved by terrestrial networks.

Satellite-to-phone services, also known as direct-to-device or direct-to-cell connectivity, enable standard smartphones to connect directly to satellites for calls, messages, and data without relying on ground-based cell towers, helping to bridge coverage gaps in remote areas.

In a consultation paper published on its website, the regulator said the initiative is aimed at addressing persistent connectivity gaps identified in its 2024 cluster gap study, which highlighted 87 clusters with limited service.

The commission noted that advances in satellite and non-terrestrial network technologies now make it possible for mobile devices to connect directly to satellites, offering a practical solution for areas where traditional infrastructure is difficult or costly to deploy.