Protesters block Keffi-Abuja Highway as businesses paralysed

Karu, the commercial nerve centre of Nasarawa State, slipped into a jittery mood on the first day of the #EndBadGovernance protest, as businesses were paralysed, with protesters almost turning violent.

Despite the early morning downpour, the protesters took to the streets to express their grievances against President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government.

Mobile phones of some road users were seized, motorists were forced to part with a token before passing, while others were forced to join the protest.

In Mararaba precisely, the protesters blocked Karu/Keffi Expressway by GTBank, near the Orange Market, threatening passers-by.

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The protest, which was becoming tense, forced some shop owners and business premises to close for fear of a breakdown of law and order.

The protesters, in their large numbers, blocked the popular Mararaba Abuja High Way, chanting “We No Longer Need Tinubu, Remove Oil Subsidy”, in absolute disappointment with the president, whose economic policies, they said, have rather than better their lives, turned Nigerians into beggars.

Some of the youths were seen trekking from the Abacha Road to Orange Market. They were, however, repelled by security agents as they began extorting people, taking their phones and forcing them into protesting.

In Keffi local government area, some of the protesters blocked the Keffi-Abuja Highway and prevented road users from entering or exiting Keffi town. They also burnt tyres and threatened motorists with violent acts for not complying with their directives to join the protest.

However, in Lafia, the state capital, except for a few groups of youths of about 15 that gathered at the ‘Welcome to Lafia’ gate, government and commercial activities went on smoothly, with no obstruction from any quarters.

The two motor parks in Lafia as well as shops in all the markets and business premises were opened. Tricycle, motorcycle riders, private and commercial car owners were seen plying the streets of Lafia without molestation.

The low turnout of protesters in Lafia could be attributed to the heavy presence of combined security operatives strategically positioned to curtail any breach of law and order.

Also, the level of awareness embarked upon by the state government and some stakeholders was one of the reasons the protesters shunned the exercise in Lafia and other parts of the state.

There was, however, protest by a few groups of persons in Doma local government area, the home town of Emmanuel Akabe, the deputy governor of the state, and in Nasarawa local government area, where they expressed their dissatisfaction with the government of President Tinubu.

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Mohammed Adamu from Kufar Kaura Lafia, who spoke to BusinessDay, said every household was suffering from the hardship caused by the Federal Government, including the fuel subsidy removal.

“In this country, nobody will say he is not facing the present hardship.

The inflation is too much and beyond the reach of a common man who struggled to vote this government into power.

“The price of fuel has increased four times from what it used to be, the price of rice is N100,00; corn is also a no-go area for the ordinary man. Where do we go from here while we have leaders we voted into power and believed they would salvage the economy of the country.

There is no food to eat, insecurity keeps worsening daily. You are not safe if you are traveling on the highway, or at home, you are not safe too. Even civil servants who are on the government payroll are not finding things easy, not to talk of the poor masses, the peasant farmers and other vulnerable citizens.

“I want to say that if President Tinubu would not change some of the anti-people policies, from now to the next 10 days, we will continue to protest even beyond the stipulated period to ensure things are better for all.”

Ramhan Nansel, spokesperson of the Nasarawa State Police Command, said the police were on top of the situation to ensure no breakdown of law and order.

“At first some boys came out in Mararaba to block the road. We called their traditional rulers and Mai ward and village heads to talk to them, and normalcy has been restored, the roads are now cleared. So, we are managing them professionally”, Ramhan said.