Abuja in New Year: City gradually recovering after annualmigration

In spite of the austerity measures declared by the federal
government and non-payment of civil servant’s salary in
December, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) still experienced
haemorrhage of human and material resources, following the
exodus of Abuja residents to celebrate Christmas and New
Year outside the FCT.
At the end of last year, many Abuja residents left with their
furniture, electronics and foodstuffs to last them for a long
while. They fear that the elections of next month will be
smeared with bloodshed and so they are actually escaping
from danger.
Now, it’s almost two full weeks into the New Year, and after
the schools had resumed for business, the city seems
somehow less busy than it used to be. While some blame it
on the economy, others say the electioneering going on has
forced many politicians that live in Abuja and those that visit
here always to relocate to the other states where the action
holds.
To others, many residents are yet to return to Abuja because
they fear the elections might result in crises, and would not
want to take chances. Such therefore prefer to remain in their
states and towns and watch the situation. To such
circumspect residents, coming back to Abuja would only be
reasonable if the elections are over and there is no problem
arising from them.
During the migration
Another feature of last year’s Yuletide celebration was the
heavy security presence on the roads. Besides the usual
Nyanya and Kugbo roadblocks, other road blocks were created
near the Berger Roundabout, Utako, along the Awolowo
highway, Area 11, AYA Roundabout and other busy areas. This
made movement a bit slow and tortuous.
However, following the large movement of people out of the
city, some major roads were virtually empty with the result
that a journey from Mararaba to the city which usually took
three to four hours, because of traffic gridlock, rather lasted
some 15 minutes.
In other parts of the city, where there were no roadblocks, the
roads remained also empty, making movements very
pleasurable and free.
Transporters field-day
But at the bus terminals and stations, it is a different kettle of
fish as travellers swarmed the whole place in large crowds.
They were mainly those waiting for a vehicle to transport
them out of the city or stranded because of high transport
fares.
The transporters had cashed in on the desperation of
travellers to mindlessly hike their fares.
For instance, in the transport company’s office in Mararaba,
the journey to the eastern part of the country which usually
costs between N4,500 jumped to about N7,000.
However, travellers had to book their tickets days before the
travel date to get a seat.
One of the drivers of a mini-bus told Abuja Metro that they
hiked fares because of the scarcity of fuel.
“This morning I bought 30 litres of fuel at the black market for
N60,000 and I have to recover the money and still take care of
my family,” he said. In Kuje, the headquarters of Kuje Area
Council, despite the scores of residents that had travelled out
for Xmas, the town still bubbled with activities.
A visit to the Peace Mass Transit office, Kuje showed an influx
of people rushing to travel to various parts of the country.
The manager of the transport company, Mr Alex Ogbu told
Abuja Metro that compared to the previous year, much more
people really travelled.
Before the festive period, Ogbu disclosed that they usually
loaded not more than two vehicles going to various
destinations per day.
With the Yuletide, he said they dispatched at least five
busloads of passengers outside the FCT.
“Even when you don’t have money, is it not better for you to
look for money and go back to your people?” he asked.
In Kuje
Abuja Metro also visited the Kuje market, the only market in
the local government headquarters on Christmas Eve.
The situation was not different from the scene in the market
as many people from far and near thronged the market to
shop for the celebration.
Mrs Ngozi Anselm, one of the shoppers observed that the
market was busier than usual even after many had travelled
out of the city.
Besides, she informed Abuja Metro that austerity measure or
no austerity measure, people must come to the market to buy
dress for the children and ingredients for their sumptuous meal
for the season.
Compared to last Xmas, Mrs Anselm observed that prices of
commodities had gone up a little bit. This, she disclosed, may
be due to the naira devaluation by the Central Bank of Nigeria
(CBN).
Commenting on the observation on price increase, a mini
boutique operator in the market, Mr Patrick Okorie said it was
not absolutely true that traders jerked up prices of their
goods.
According to him, prices of items are fairly stable in the
market when compared with other markets in the Federal
Capital Territory.
“We all know that there is no money in the country at present
and so it will not be wise for any trader to moot the idea of
any price increase. It is not true at all,” he said.
At the Garki market
But at the Garki Market on the eve of the Yuletide, there were
heavy and frenetic transactions going Also, in Wuse Market,
the largest and busies shopping place in Abuja, there was a
large influx of people as shoppers besieged the entire space.
This invariably impacted on the cost of items. But the cost
was not different from what it was in Garki Market.
On Christmas Day proper, most churches in the city were
virtually empty, with very few worshipers. Whereas some
members had travelled, others were busy at home preparing
for the celebration.
The hospitality industry is the worst-hit. Most of them
recorded low patronage.
Up till now, those markets and traders that had hectic time
making brisk business for the festive periods of Christmas and
New Year seem a little bit idle as visits to the markets
indicate.
They are waiting for the year to pick up before normal
businesses resume. And with the delay in return of residents
due to the political reasons, they might wait longer and even
other activities in the city might not come at full swing until
the elections are out of the way.