Commuter Buses, Okada Riders, Traders Resume Business

As the 24-hour curfew in Kaduna was further relaxed to between 8am and 5pm yesterday with effect from today , some commuter bus drivers, motorcyclists popularly known as okada riders and traders have resumed business activities in the state.

The resumption from what P.M.News gathered stemmed from hunger and lack of food as well as money to cater for their immediate needs and families since the crippling labour strike commenced on Monday across the country.

Ibrahim Kura , a bus driver said they didn’t expect the strike to tarry till today ,so he and some other drivers were forced to come out to get some money to buy food and meet with other daily family needs.

The okada riders too held the same opinion like the bus drivers.

Chidi Eze an Igbo trader, who sells electronic gadgets, opined that the labour strike should not be binding on traders because nobody is paying them.

He further stated, “Our businesses are suffering and because we are tired of staying at home without food and money to spend, we had to shun the strike.”

Other traders who expressed similar opinion want Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC to call off the strike in the interest of progress and development.

However, all filling stations, banks and most business premises as well as major markets have remained closed in the state.

—Femi Adi / Kaduna