Beginning around 11 pm on Wednesday, the eve of the protest, citizens in Bwari, Kubwa, Dutse axis of Abuja witnessed a power shutdown which has remained till now.
As early as 5am of Thursday, network service was also slowed down, making it hard to download photos and videos. While passengers are seen stranded at the Zenith bank Dutse Alhaji junction.
Shops are open, with caution as many fear to display goods outside, while the ever busy Dutse market is open with minimal activity.
However, while there is no visible restriction on movement, security presence is seen around (police) from Dutse Junction, FCDA, Owner Occupier, and the FCDA, as security vehicles are also seen patrolling.
Speaking with BusinessDay, Chidinma (surname withheld), a fashion designer at the Wuse market says she believes this is just the peace before the storm.
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I don’t see anything happening in the FCT for now because the protest is outside the main city, my only problem is transport, and if it is like this now, I believe it will be worse in the evening. I just hope I won’t have to trek the distance back.
“So far, it looks peaceful, but I fear, government may cause an escalation if they do not allow the protesters to do their thing in peace’
For Abdul Umaru, a civil servant, he is just being careful and will rather wait to gauge the mood of the town before heading out.
“Nothing is happening here, except the traffic. But one has to be very watchful to gauge the mood of the protesters. I hope issues are resolved on time”
Austin Edeh, a businessman, urges the government to meet the citizens halfway so as to ensure this is ended quickly.
“I have heard some of the calls made by the protesters and they have genuine reasons for this protest. there is nobody in Nigeria not feeling the heat of this government, but atleast they should meet the citizens halfway.”
“Look at the cost of fuel, even at that, it is not readily available.’
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Asked if he will join the protest, he laughs and answers ‘I am with them in spirit. If Nigeria can be made to work for us all, it is a good move’.
Meanwhile, at the Moshood Abiola stadium venue of the protest, some marchers have converged with placards bearing ‘Take it Back Movement’.
Businesses open but cautious
Commercial entities across the federal Capital Territory FCT, on Thursday have shutdown their businesses, as people were seen, going about their activities despite the much published nationwide protest plans.
The commercial entities such as banks, fuel stations and shopping malls remain closed, in what can be described as cautious response to the planned nationwide protests, to avoid hoodlums a looting their goods
Security agencies, including the Police and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps had mobilised their men at strategic locations as early as 6am, to ensure safety and free movement of people, across the FCT.
In the Kuje area Council, about 15 kilometers, from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and gateway into the city, well armed security operatives were seen strategically stationed also as part of measures to guarantee safety of citizens.
As at the time of filing in this report, the protesters remain faceless within the FCT.
Most of the people interviewed by BusinessDay denied knowledge of the protest organizers, as they said they only heard about the protests on the radio, from what they read in the newspapers and saw discussed on the television and other social media handles.
Audu Ibrahim, a Motorcycle operator told BusinessDay in Abuja that he only heard about the protest from his colleagues
” We heard about the nationwide protests, but none of us know who the organisers are”
BusinessDay gathered that transporters who came out early are making brick business, charging higher fares on the backdrop of the current fuel scarcity in the fct .
Isa Nuhu, a tea seller at the popular Tipper garage at Kuje, said he didn’t open his shop early this Thursday because he ” cautiously was observing to see if there was going to be protests” as he heard
” As you can see, people are going about their activities. This Tipper garage is usually the starting point of every protest because it is where everyone gather. But we are still watching and waiting”.
