Special Correspondent, IDU JUDE, writes on experiences of Abuja residents on account of rigorous security checks arising from recent terror attacks on the city
Nearly four months after the April 14 and 19 blasts that rocked Nyanya, Abuja, the impact of the dastardly acts are still felt on the social and economic life of the inhabitants of the suburb. Investigations by TheNiche indicate that business activities around the ever busy Nyanya Market have been at very low turn.
Soldiers at a checkpoint
Aside the obvious economic downturn occasioned by dwindling patronage, what contributes to the pains of millions of people living at the axis of Keffi federal high way, Abuja, is the traffic being experienced on the road to Abuja due to checkpoints mounted by soldiers. The regular traffic has been nauseating to road-users, including workers and business operators, who spend about five hours to get to their destinations. The same harrowing situation is experienced in the evening rush hour.
On account of the frustrating development, residents of Nyanya (Abuja) and Mararaba (Nasarawa State) are blaming the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led federal government for not putting in place measures that will ease the pains of the masses.
For the hapless residents, their immediate concern is not fear of subsequent strikes by the insurgents but the fear of gun-wielding soldiers deployed to the area since the unfortunate April incidents.
Expressing displeasure at the development, a shop-owner at Nyanya Market, Innocent Odoh, blamed the insensitivity of the government on the turn of events, stating that it does not have the interest of the people at heart. He recalled instances of countries that had gone through insurgency before Nigeria but quickly sorted things out and people went on with their normal lives.
“This type of thing happened in the United State, in 2013 during a marathon race, in which some people died; but the security agencies quickly swung into action and made arrests and life continued for those living. The same venue also played host to the race in the 2014 edition. So, what are we talking about?” Odoh fumed.
Abdulahi Idris, another resident, frowned at the suffocating security arrangement, blaming the government officials for their poor disposition towards the people who voted them to office.
“I am a business man. Since the blast, we have not been making much sales. Soldiers are always chasing people in all directions, preventing them from coming close to buy items. The government should quickly do something or the people would make another choice in the next election because they voted for Jonathan when he said that he was raised from a poor background,” he said.
Emmanuel Dung, Abuja-based security expert, remarked that the federal government under Jonathan has lost focus about security in the 21st century, adding that it is not supposed to be so.
“We have problem here. Drafting soldiers here will not solve our problems, as they will only do according to their human capacity. I know the entire search will certainly be done manually, not scientific. But I must also tell you that Nigeria is capable of securing this country electronically like the U.S., France, Japan and other world powers, if things are done the way it should,” he said.
According to Dung, a responsive government thinks of the people first before political campaigns.
“But do we see that today?” he asked, stressing that the situation, rather, is when the insurgents are busy preparing how to shame the country, our leaders are busy fighting over political positions.
He added: “I won’t say that the leadership of this country does not know what to do because we have so many security experts around, but it can never approach some of us to render help or proffer solutions. Now you can see people bearing the brunt of what the insurgents orchestrated. People now spend four hours in a journey of 30 minutes. And no one knows when it will end.”
Business and economic activities are also yet to pick up at the hitherto ever busy Emab plPaza that witnessed a blast in Abuja recently. Shop occupants and other business operators were asked to shut down shortly after the blast. They are yet to resume full transactions.
Narrating his experience to our reporter, Linus Ugwuoke, a shop-owner who deals in computer wares and telephone accessories, lamented his ordeal in sitting at home due to the closure of his shop on account of the blast.
“The rent here is N6 million, excluding the goods inside. We are now suffering and we are begging them to see why they should come to our aid.
“They told us that they are carrying out forensic examination, but that has been a long time now. Is our own different from the trend in foreign countries? I am not saying that what the Boko Haram did was good; but why do they not pity those of us who know nothing about the activities of those bad people? I am tired of the whole thing. If only they can allow me take my goods, I can relocate from this place and head for the East,” he moaned.
