From David Onuoja, Abuja
The ever busy National Assembly complex Abuja was deserted on the ninth day of the nationwide protests as staff stayed away from work.
Early this morning when The Graphic visited the complex renowned for its hustle and bustle, activities were low. Only a few cleaners were noticed gong about their duties.
The entire strech of the complex was deserted starting from the annex building right through to the senator’s offices up to the white house area and new house of representative building looked like a ghost town.
Except for the house of representative building where only a few cleaners were seen sitting quietly concentrating on their phones, all other offices were closed.
Security personnel on the other hand were seen patrolling the grounds while others were positioned in strategic areas of the complex. The usual stop and search practice that was enforced by the police on regular days was relaxed.
In the same manner, commercial activities were totally crippled within and around the complex as petty traders and others who rely on assembly workers for patronage stayed away. However, some banks were open for business with very few customers carrying out transaction.
Attempts by The Graphic to speak with some of the bank staff did not yield result as they declined speaking without authorization from their superiors.
Despite the relative calm, heavily equipped security personnel were seen blocking all the roads leading to Aso Rock Villa, the seat of government. Roads leading from the Court of Appeal through to the Federal Secretariat down to Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja were all maned by security agencies.
It would be recalled that the National Assembly had on Tuesday, July 23, announced that it was embarking on a seven-week recess. The lawmakers are to resume on September 17.
The #EndBadGovernance protest, organized by some Nigerians over the economic hardship in the country, commenced August 1 and is scheduled to end on August 10.
