• Police, protesters battle in Abuja
• Curfew in Plateau, Bauchi, Kaduna
• Benin peaceful
Commercial activities roared back to life yesterday in Lagos, Edo, Delta, Taraba, and Niger states after protests that kept many residents indoors and businesses shut.
The normalcy in Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti and Benue continued unabated while peace also returned to Niger and Nasarawa with minimal government and business activities.
But the situation was different in Abuja, Rivers and Osun where demonstrators continued the street agitation.
The number of protesters dropped drastically at the weekend.
Despite the gathering of a small band of protesters at the designated point – the Gani Fawehimi Memorial Park in Ojota – all parts of Lagos were peaceful with residents going about their businesses without any sign of fear.
There was free vehicular movement. All major markets such as Ladipo Auto Spare Parts, Trade Fare Complex, Alaba International, and the Computer Village in Ikeja, shut to prevent attack by hoodlums, were open for businesses.
The state secretariat in Alausa was filled to the brim with civil servants.
Activities peaked at the Mile 12 foodstuff market and others.
Bank branches in the nation’s economic hub ran full services. They were, however, cautious as many of them had their gates partially open.
The heavy presence of security operatives that was common sight before the commencement of the protest had reduced as of yesterday.
At the Gani Fawehinmi Park where Police Commissioner Adegoke Fayoade led a team of his men and officers in providing security, the few protesters insisted on continuing the demonstrations until their demands were addressed.
The protesters commenced the programme by observing a minute silence for lives lost to the protest.
Thereafter, they entered what they called “Congress by Protesters”, led by Hassan Soweto.
Soweto denied they had suspended the protest.
He said the protest would continue because President Bola Ahmed Tinubu failed to address their demands, particularly the reduction in fuel, electricity, and food prices.
He added: “We don’t want any dialogue with the president, but we want him to meet our demands.
“We have not sent anyone to represent us at the presidency for dialogue.
“Those who briefed the press that the protest had been suspended are not members of the groups.”
Protester released
Amos Olajide, a protester arrested on Sunday by the police, was released yesterday following the intervention of lawyers and advocacy groups.
Justice Ojienoh, a lawyer present at the protest venue, explained that Olajide’s wife notified them of his arrest.
“We took advantage of the presence of the commissioner of police this morning to address the issue.
“The commissioner assured us of Olajide’s release, and indeed, he has been released,” Ojienoh said.
He also commended the police for their protection of the protesters.
‘Lagosians have rejected chaos for peace’
Information Commissioner Gbenga Omotoso explained that the return of full life to the state was because “Lagosians have chosen peace and rejected chaos.”
He thanked the residents ‘’for not allowing anarchy and embracing peace.’’
The commissioner spoke after the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting chaired by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“Lagos is peaceful and will continue to be because that is what Lagosians want.
“The governor has resumed the business of state and workers are back at their desks.
“Members of the public are returning to engage with government services,” he said.
The commissioner added that since the government issued three contact numbers for dialogue, thousands of calls had been received from individuals and groups seeking to engage with the government.
Omotoso urged the people to go about their businesses without fear.
Edo
Normalcy also returned to most parts of Edo State after protesters in Benin vacated King’s Square, popularly referred to as Ring Road in Benin, which they had occupied since the protests began.
Major roads were cleared of the barricades made by the protesters, thus enabling motorists to operate.
But some roads in the city were still blocked by some protesters who extorted motorists and passers-by.
Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, warned them to return home because the Police would not condone lawlessness and criminal activities.
Ogun
Governor Dapo Abiodun lauded youths in the state for being law-abiding and for taking the path of constructive engagement to voice their discontent.
He said their action was responsible for the peace that the state is enjoying.
Abiodun spoke during the inauguration of the Governing Council of the Sikiru Adetona College of Education, Science and Technology, Ijebu-Ode.
He said: “Let me use this opportunity to appeal to and thank the youths and students of Ogun State for being law-abiding and for choosing constructive engagement to voice their discontent.
“We have heard your voices; your well-being and welfare are our priority. Both the state and the Federal Government under President Tinubu will work hand in glove and continue to be responsive to your demands.
“We only request more patience and understanding as the impact of the implementation of the policies to reposition the economy often takes a bit of time.”
Abuja
Security operatives dispersed protesters in the Karu area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well as the Moshood Abiola Stadium.
The protesters were assembling in Karu when security agents went after them and arrested three.
An eyewitness, Ibrahim Sani, said the police fired teargas before arrests were made.
Security operatives are all over the nation’s capital to forestall the breakdown of law and order.
Police also shot teargas to disperse protesters in Gede, Jikwoyi area, while demonstrators were out in large numbers in the Nyanya area.
However, there was an increased vehicular movement in FCT yesterday although some government offices were deserted.
The Federal Secretariat was open but workers were scanty.
Protesters were dispersed at the stadium when they attempted to move beyond the designated point.
*Ondo
Residents of Ondo State ignored calls by their kinsman, Omoyele Sowore, to be part of the protest.
Sowore, one of the propellers of the protest, had in a social media post, claimed that “Akure is now on board. Monday, August 5th NEPA Roundabout.”
There was no gathering of protesters when a correspondent of The Nation visited the roundabout.
Commercial activities went on fully in Akure and other parts of the state just as some residents called on Sowore to be on the ground to lead the protest.
However, banks did not open even with a high presence of security personnel at strategic locations in Akure.
Organisers of the protest in the state had pulled out, citing security reports of plans to burn businesses owned by non-indigenes.
*Osun
Economic activities improved and civil servants in the state resumed work.
The protests continued in Osogbo with a smaller number of demonstrators.
The gate of the state secretariat, Abere was partially opened. The Federal Court, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office, and other businesses that were shut last week have reopened.
A spokesperson for the Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens (CCNC), Segun Oyewale, urged the government to take practical steps toward resolving the demands of the youth.
However, Governor Ademola Adeleke said that President Tinubu was working hard to address the challenges.
Adeleke, who lauded the protesters for their peaceful conduct, said: “I charge them to sustain their upholding of peace.
‘’All their submissions will be duly received. We will attend to areas that affect us as a state government and we will take the rest to Mr President in Abuja. As Mr President is working hard at the national level, we are complementing him as the government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
* Niger
Markets and businesses also reopened in Minna, the state capital
There were also increased vehicular and human movements, indicating that normalcy had returned.
The security presence in various parts of the state, especially in areas identified as black spots, has not reduced.
*Taraba and Nasarawa
Markets, banks, public and private institutions in Jalingo reopened for normal services yesterday following Governor Agbu Kefas’ meeting with youths.
During the meeting , Kefas disclosed that 80 percent of his plans in the state were for the benefit of young people.
He asked the youth to articulate their needs in their localities and send same to the government. The governor also promised to address the people on his administration’s roadmap on some of the issues raised by the youth.
In Keffi and Karu Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State, residents also moved freely and business bounced back after the government relaxed the curfew it imposed there following the violence that charactised the protest.
Like Taraba, there are still security men stationed in strategic places in the two councils.
* Delta
Traders and motorists in some parts of the state restarted their daily activities after staying away for fear of being attacked.
At Igbudu, Effurun, Orhuwhorun, and Agbarho markets in Warri South; Uvwie, Udu and Ughelli North council areas, however, said that they were vigilant.
At Enerhen Junction, movements were unhindered while shop owners operated without fear.
Also, workers of Julius Berger handling a flyover project at the axis, were back on site.
*Benue
Even though there was no protest in Benue State most residents said they were still scared of stepping out of their homes.
A popular grocery shop owner at Katsina Ala Street, Ifeanyi Chukwudili, said even though the state did not participate in the protest, he was afraid to throw his shop open.
“ I thought some hoodlums would attempt a fast one so I just stood in front of my shop and secretly attended to some of my regular customers.
*Protests in Oyo, Rivers
The protests continued in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Ibadan, Oyo State,.
A Professor, Ademola Aremu, led the Ibadan demonstration.
In Port Harcourt, the protesters converged on their usual venue, Pleasure Park along PH/Aba Express Highway at about 11 am and later moved to the Eleme Junction stretch of the road.
The participants carried leaf branches and the Nigerian flag singing songs and the national Anthem as walked briskly through the streets.
At Eleme Junction, the youth diverted to Elelenwo community and headed straight to Akpaju Junction to the popular East/ West Road, causing gridlock.
A handful of protesters, including children, were also seen at the popular Aggrey and Station roads insisting that their demands must be met by the President.
The protesters, who were dressed in funny costumes, however, started issuing threats to residents, especially shop owners and motorists.
They said: “Tomorrow (today), park your vehicles and close your shops and come and join us. Tomorrow(today) there will be no shops. You will see what will happen tomorrow(today).
Some of them called for the exit of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and some other Federal Government officials.
When the protesters got to an NNPC filling station, many motorists, who queued to buy fuel, joined them in solidarity.
The protest resumed yesterday in front of the University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, Oyo State,
Prof Aremu, who is the Chairman of Joint Action Front (JAF) in the state, said the broadcast by President Tinubu did not provide solution to the problems facing the country.
He argued that all achievements highlighted in the broadcast failed to individually and collectively translate into any meaningful improvement in the life of working people.
Aremu added that the group would commence discussions with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the media, and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), towards building a Pan-Nigerian movement of the working people that would be determined and prepared to challenge the Tinubu-led administration.
