SOCIO-ECONOMIC activities, which were interrupted on Thursday by the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest in many parts of the country, are gradually returning.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okota, Ejigbo, Isolo, Lekki and other areas in Lagos recorded vehicular movements and business activities, while commercial activities picked up in Osogbo, Osun State capital as well as Sango, a major commercial hub in Ogun State.
In Lagos, shops, malls and some other business premises were opened while street and roadside trading picked up.
Police vehicles which were stationed on Thursday at the Ago Roundabout on Okota Road were no longer there but few policemen were seen sitting.
People were seen going about their normal activities. However, Libra Transport Company premises at Ago Roundabout was still under lock. A security guard there, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN on Friday that the company was not operating.
According to him, the organisation’s administrative staff were not at work, also. He added that it was not certain if the buses would be on the roads on Saturday.
At the God is Good Motors’ premises also on Okota Road, a staff who did not want his name to be mentioned, told NAN that the company transported passengers to Asaba.
He said that the turnout of passengers was poor, adding that he was not sure the company would operate on Saturday.
Offices of the Young Shall Grow Transport Company and Peace Mass Transit at Mazamaza Park were still locked as at the time of this report.
At Jakande Gate axis of Isolo, business activities picked up on the second day of the protest.
Many shops were opened for businesses and popular supermarkets – Jendor and Justrite – were also opened for activities.
Guaranty Trust Bank, Eco Bank, Access Bank, First Bank, and other banks on the axis were operating.
Security operatives were seen at several spots from Jakande Gate to Iyana-Ejigbo.
A resident, Mrs Esther Agbonifo, expressed delight that socio-economic activities were picking up.
Agbonifo said that the protesters had made their voices heard and did not need to carry out the action for 10 days as they planned.
“We need to let the government know we are suffering, but they (protesters) should not let the protest last for 10 days because hoodlums might hijack it to cause problems,” she said.
Lekki Phase 1 in the state remained orderly and peaceful on the second day of the protest.
Policemen were still stationed at the Admiralty and Ikoyi Link Bridge toll gates of the area to maintain law and order while the residents were going about their normal businesses.
There were no signs of protest there as at the time of this report.
Major supermarkets, shops and banks were opened for businesses, contrary to the situation on Thursday when the nationwide protest began.
NAN also reports that normalcy returned to Ikorodu Town as trading activities and parties have resumed amid the hunger protest as the usual hustling and bustling associated with the town and its commercial activities was evident with increased presence of traders and customers at Ladega and Sabo markets.
A trader at Ladega Market, Mr Simeon Anaboro, told NAN that peace and tranquillity witnessed in the town on the first day of the protest encouraged businesses to resume trading activities.
“We came yesterday but we didn’t open our stalls because the hoodlums were loitering around.
“We were afraid of attacks and looting if violence broke out. Fortunately, the presence of security officials prevented the breakdown of law and order and this encouraged us to open today,” Anaboro said.
NAN reports that people elegantly dressed were observed around Etunweren, Lowa and Benson areas.
Upon enquiry, it was learnt that a remembrance and engagement party was holding there.
A septuagenarian, Alhaji Bilikis Anifowoshe, said that the 10th year remembrance celebration of the former traditional ruler of Ikorodu was being held.
“Initially, we thought it would be postponed because of the protest but since the town and Lagos State had enjoyed peace, the family decided to go ahead with the event,” she said.
The presence of vehicular activities and commuters also increased as more commercial buses, cabs, tricycles and motorcycles were witnessed on the roads.
At the interstate park at Ikorodu Garage, Mr Muri Agbabiaka LP told NAN that there was an increased turnout of travelers to the south-west states compared to the previous day.
NAN reports that security officials including the police, Nigeria Civil Defence and the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps among other security officials were still present at the Ikorodu Roundabout. (NAN)
In neighbouring Ogun State town of Sango Ota on Friday, some banks and markets reopened for business activities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the banks, markets and filling stations around Toll-gate, Joju, Sango-Ota and Oju-Ore, which had closed shop on Thursday due to the protest, opened for economic activities on Friday.
NAN also reports that the hitherto absent hustle and bustle started in the morning at the ever-busy toll-gate area, with passengers seen boarding commercial buses, tricycles and motorcycles to their various destinations.
Mr Idris Balogun, a staff member of one of the first-generation banks, said that they were delighted to open for business activities.
According to him, this is the one of the ways the bank provides services to its customers and makes profits.
He urged the Federal Government to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and provide palliative to alleviate the sufferings of the masses.
Also, a civil servant, Mrs Bukola Ogunmola, said she was happy to see the resumption of commercial activities at Sango-Ota market.
Ogunmola said that she came to the market to purchase foodstuffs for her family.
“I want to appeal to protesters to shun violence and embrace peace, for the betterment of the country,’’ she said.
Mr Fola Alli, a bank customer around Joju area of Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, said that he was in the bank to send money to his aged parents in the village.
Alli said that he could not come to the bank on Thursday because of the protest around Sango-Ota under bridge.
He, however, called on the federal government to open the nation’s borders so that food items could come in, thus reducing hunger in the hand.
Alli also stressed the need for government to fashion out policies that would attract more foreign investors in order to create employment opportunities for the unemployed youth. (NAN)
In Osogbo, as the protest enters second day on Friday, business activities gradually resumed at the Osun State capital with the reopening of some shops and markets earlier shut on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the markets that opened for activities include the Akindeko Market, MDS Shopping Complex and Orisunmibare Market.
However, commercial banks were still on Friday under lock and key with security personnel stationed at strategic locations.
A foodstuff seller at Orisunmibare market, Alhaja Fausat Akanbi, said shop owners cautiously locked their stores on Thursday to avoid any unfortunate turn of the protest.
“We had to be careful because we didn’t know what the protest might turn out to be.
“During the EndSARS protest in 2020, many of the shops at Orisunmibare were looted and some of the shop owners lost their means of livelihood.
“We were afraid the same thing might happen this time, but we thank God that the protest was orderly and peaceful yesterday, and that is why we decided to reopen today.
“Again, security personnel were everywhere yesterday and that gave us additional assurance that there will be no problem,” she said.
A commercial driver, Mr Kamoru Hakeem, said he was pleased with the peaceful manner of the protest on Thursday.
According to him, if protests were done everywhere like in Osun, there would be no problem with having a protest.
“The way they did the protest was so nice. There was no violence and nobody was attacked as protesters marched peacefully through the streets without hoodlums infiltrating their camp. I hope that the expected result is achieved at the end of the day,” he said.
Meanwhile, NAN reports that protesters regathered on Friday at the Freedom Park, Osogbo, marching toward Olaiya junction.
The protest coordinators, Ajala Adetunji of the Coalition of Concern Nigeria Citizens, and Mr Waheed Lawal, Chairman, Osun People’s Coalition Society, both called for a peaceful atmosphere.
They urged the protesters not to be unruly and to keep from attacking people, warning that offenders would be arrested by security operatives. (NAN)
