Traders In Onitsha, Owerri Back To Business

Traders in Onitsha have shunned the ongoing nationwide strike, pushing ahead with their business activities as the strike bites harder in other part of the country.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) monitoring the strike reports that markets, shops and other business activities are in full swing as the strike enters its second day.

Residents of the city went about their businesses with commercial vehicle operators providing services while pupils and students in private schools were seen going to school.

NAN checks revealed that motor parks were opened and witnessed more patronage than on Monday.

However, banks remained closed but customers were seen making withdrawals using ATM machines.

NAN reports that traders in Onitsha and the residents have urged the NLC and civil society groups to have a re-think and suspend the strike in the interest the country.

In Owerri, the capital of Imo, the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, provided skeletal medical services for emergency situations but doctors did not attend to pregnant women, who went for the routine ante-natal at the FMC on Orlu Road in the city.

A medical practitioner at the hospital, Dr. Cornelius Amajioyi, told NAN that only emergency cases were handled because of the strike.

Amajioyi said that patients whose conditions were not critical had been discharged while those on critical conditions received medical attention.

Meanwhile, banks and government offices in Owerri remained closed, while markets, private fuel stations and motor parks opened for business.

But in Gusau, Zamfara, public and commercial activities in the state remained grounded.

NAN reports that government offices, banks, markets and motor parks were shut, while streets were deserted, following heavy security presence within the municipality.

Youths were seen playing football on the roads deserted by motorists.

It was reported that some protesters took advantage of the demonstration on Monday to vandalise public properties, including two pick-up vans belonging to security operatives.

Meanwhile, the State Government has announced restriction of movements except for people on essential services between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., following the skirmishes recorded on January 9.

The state’s Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Ibrahim Birninmagaji, while announcing the restriction of movement, urged the people to bear it in the interest of peace and security in the state.

From Maiduguri, economic activities remained paralysed on Tuesday as the anti-subsidy strike entered day two.

A Correspondent of NAN, who went round the state capital reports that all markets were closed and their gates placed under lock and key.

The Chairman of NLC in Borno, Mr Titus Abana, told newsmen in Maiduguri that he commended security agencies for allowing it free access to monitor the strike in the state.

“I wish to commend security agents in the state for allowing free passage to our monitoring

teams going round to ensure full compliance with the strike, in spite of the state of emergency.

“I also commend workers in both public and private sectors for joining the strike, we shall continue until victory is achieved,” Abana said.

He appealed to workers to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the period of the strike.

In Eket, Akwa Ibom, banks and offices remained shut and the gates of the terminal building in Ibeno was locked and guarded by armed security operatives.