Banks Still Shut

Banks and other business outfits in Lagos, southwest Nigeria, were still shut today as the strike embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, over the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government entered the sixth day.

The NLC had ordered a sit-at-home strike by all Nigerians to protest government’s insensitivity as it stopped the protests and rallies across Nigeria for security reasons.

Unlike at the weekend when several business outfits and companies opened for work after the first five days of the protest, today was different as offices, banks and filling stations were ostensibly shut in compliance with the sit-at-home order by NLC.

Residents of Isolo, Okota, Festac and other parts of the metropolis complied fully with the sit-at-home order by labour.

The streets were empty while children converted some of the empty streets into football pitches.

In Ikeja, Lagos’ capital commercial activities were paralysed today. The same goes for areas like Iyana Ipaja, Surulere, Yaba, among others.

The presence of soldiers in several parts of the metropolis further crippled business activities as traders and others were scared of coming out.

However, some banks in Isolo, Okota and Festac yesterday opened their Automated Teller Machines, ATM, to customers. They were assisted by mobile policemen who gave security backing to the banks and customers.

Some ATM machines in Ogba area were also ‘refreshed’ with cash to enable customers withdraw money to stockpile food and other essentials during the ongoing strike.

In several parts of the Lagos metropolis yesterday, hundreds of Lagosians were seen queuing at ATM s to withdraw money in anticipation of another long week of protests.

—Akin Kuponiyi & Kazeem Ugbodaga