Virtually all deposit money banks (DMBs) and offices across Abuja shut down operations midday Monday as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) kick-started the announcement of results of the presidential election held on Saturday and Sunday. The commission about 2.15p.m commenced the announcement of the results at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja. Major roads across the city and neighbouring towns were deserted as workers and residents restricted their movements within their vicinities. Our correspondent, who visited some of the commercial banks at the National Assembly complex, observed that most of the banks closed operations at 12 noon while others operated till 2:30p.m.
Most of the people who visited the banks expressed disappointment over the closure of the lenders as no previous notice were given by the management. Akinpelu, who wanted to transfer money to his wife’s account, expressed displeasure over the development. A handful of federal workers were seen across most of the federal minis- tries, departments and agencies (MDAs) located at the Federal Secretariat, Central Business District. Some of the residents and workers who spoke with BusinessDay stressed the need for the Federal Government to deploy security agencies to various locations across the states including FCT in order to check excesses of the people, especially in violence prone areas. They also emphasised the need for provision of adequate security for the citizenry while the results were being announced. Mama Ife, a food vendor at the National Assembly complex who expressed fear of likely outbreak of violence, vowed not to open her shop until next Monday.
