Strike: Abuja Residents Stay Indoors

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Monday stayed at home to protest the increase in pump price of petrol, in line with directive by labour unions.

The pump price of petrol was on January 1 increased from N65 to about N140 per litre by the federal government, as part of the deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry.

The protest is to force the government to revert the price back to N65.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that most public and private offices, including banks in the FCT and neighbouring Mararaba in Nasarawa State, were closed.

A few markets in Area 1, Area 2 and Gudu District, were however openned, while most filling stations in the area were closed.

The NNPC Mega Station on Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Abuja, was seen attending to a few motorists.

Health care services were not affected at the Garki General Hospital, Abuja, as it continued to receive patients.

Mr. Ibrahim Idakwo, the Director of Administration, told NAN that the hospital had no plan to shut its doors to patients.

“The only problem is that we have to direct those that were on night shift the previous day to stay until other workers resume duty today.

“We cannot leave the sick because of the situation, we have to attend to them irrespective of the prevailing circumstance,” he said.

At the Old Federal Secretariat, Area I, Abuja, the few officials that turned up for work at the ministries of Trade and Investments, Interior, Water Resources and NOA were seen discussing in groups outside their offices.

Security in the city had been beefed up, with soldiers, the Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and the FRSC taking control of strategic areas, roads and public buildings.

The streets of the city were virtually deserted as only a few vehicles were plying the road, while in Mararaba, some commercial buses were seen conveying passengers to Keffi, Nasarawa State.

Some youths in the area were also on the street, blocking the highway and carrying placards in solidarity with the strike called by labour unions.