Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday stayed long hours in traffic gridlock as security personnel diverted motorists from the venue of President Goodluck Jonathan's declaration to re-contest election in 2015.
Some residents of Mararaba in Nasarawa State and its environs as well as Karu and Nyanya surburbs of the FCT were the most affected.
Some commuters who spoke to NAN expressed frustration and counted their losses caused by the diversion of traffic.
Mr Afolabi Jaminu, a business man criticised the action, saying that "the fact that Jonathan is declaring today shouldn't mean that all roads should be blocked.
"I don't feel good about it. Even before now they blocked everywhere, causing holdup and making life unbearable by diverting cars to a single lane which is risky.
"I feel declaring his intentions should have been done at the weekend, while people are at home, that would have been better for everybody''.
Mrs Margret Akpan, a food vendor whose shop is located in the Central Business District faulted the grounding of her business.
A frustrated Akpan, who counted her losses, said the action prevented her from making sales as her customers could not gain access to her business premise.
"I am at a loss on what to do with all the food I prepared to sell today, as I cannot have access to my shop,'' she said.
Umaru Angulu, a petty trader in the motor park located at the Federal Secretariat, said he got his livelihood from day-to-day sales in the area and lamented the disruption to his business.
A commuter, Mr Abu Zango, said he spent more than two hours waiting to catch a taxi from Area 8 in Garki to his destination.
"I think that most of the taxi drivers have decided not to come out because of the blocked roads and the few operating have restricted their movement to some places."
Another commuter, Mr Sunday Agbo who was not bordered by the heavy traffic, said that the situation was expected from an event such as the president's declaration.
"This is expected because the president is declaring today. There is influx of people into Abuja so there would definitely be a lot of traffic,'' he said.
A taxi driver, Chijoke Madu, said he decided to take advantage of the situation by increasing charges, adding that the increase was for Tuesday only.
NAN reports that most roads leading to the Eagle Square were blocked, causing heavy traffic on other roads in the city.
NAN also reports that civil servants in the Federal Secretariat stayed home on Tuesday as access to their places of work were blocked. (NAN)
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
This is ignoble! The declaration came only a day following the massacre of over 47 school boys in a Government School in Potiskum, Yobe State!! When Mr. President should have been mourning, and urging all citizens to mourn, our dear President Jona thought it was time to cause further undue stress on Abuja workers and business persons by having roads barricaded and traffic diverted to cause gridlocks. If this is not insensitivity of the highest order, and utter disrespect of lives of citizens which any elected President MUST swear to protect, then maybe I do not know what is. Haba, Mr. Jonathan! Are you that daft? The sagacity of carrying on as if all is well in the country, on your watch is truly baffling; makes me wonder whether there is any demarcation, even a thin line only, between power and insanity.
ReplyDelete