Emergency rule choking us, say Suleja residents
The hitherto busy and bubbling town of Suleja in Niger State, one of Abuja’s closest neighbors has turned sleepy lately. The town’s economic and social activities have been strangulated by the state of emergency imposed on it, after the Christmas day bombings at the St. Theresa Catholic Church that resulted in the deaths of many. […]
The hitherto busy and bubbling town of Suleja in Niger State, one of Abuja’s closest neighbors has turned sleepy lately. The town’s economic and social activities have been strangulated by the state of emergency imposed on it, after the Christmas day bombings at the St. Theresa Catholic Church that resulted in the deaths of many. Residents are groaning over the near-total grounding of social and economic activities, what they describe as ‘torment’ that has made a lot of people to relocate out of the once-busy town.
Loss of man-hours, dullness in economic activities and near-absence of social activities since the Boko Haram sect began its attacks, plus the presence of heavily-armed military troops, have since been the order of the day. Entrepreneurs and traders whose economic activities pick after regular office hours have had to shut down automatically, as the curfew begins at 6:00pm to 6:00am. For a visitor to the town, the presence of heavily-armed security operatives drafted to maintain the emergency rule, is enough to deflate enthusiasm.
The story is the same for the ordinary man in the street of Suleja trying to make ends meet. The laborers, who embark on daily menial jobs and get paid by the hours they put in, the market traders, hoteliers, as well as those who patronize them, are all feeling the intensity of the situation, as sources of income dwindle. According to Chimezie Nonso, 43, a trader who relocated to Kubwa village, the experience is different from where he came from. “I have been in Suleja since 1998 and it was a good place for my business as well as my social life. I had never thought of moving out of the town. It was a nice, affordable town. I had a three-bedroom apartment which I was paying N130,000 and my business was doing well because a lot of people from Abuja patronized Suleja market because of the affordability of goods there compared to Abuja markets. Now I have moved to Kubwa, where I pay a whopping N350,000 for a two-bedroom apartment, besides what I pay for my shop space.”
Nonso says it’s just a different world to him. “But I had no option than to relocate. Business has died in Suleja, due to the curfew. Before you know it, time is up and the town becomes tense, with people running frantically to beat the deadline.” He told Weekly Trust that he knows more than 6 people who have sold off their properties and left the town some two weeks ago.
Residents who work in Abuja city also expressed their woes trying to make curfew hours after closing from work. Wazhi Kumnang, a junior civil servant at the Federal Secretariat, said: “Once it is 5 o’clock and you are still in town, just find a place and spend the night, because these military guys will not listen to any excuse or even look at your identity card.”
Weekly Trust also learnt that residents are increasingly relocating to Dakwa, Zuba, Tungan Maje amongst other FCT suburbs bordering Suleja. Laborers and petty traders are also among those paying the price of the emergency rule in the town. A motorcyclist, who gave his name as Aliyu said once it is time for real activities that is when people begin to rush home. Local tea vendors, suya sellers and black market fuel operators fall in this category.
European football fans who reside in Suleja leave the town for Kubwa to watch Champions League football matches. Morocco Road is at the heart of the commercial district of Suleja. Once a very busy area, residents say it’s now anything but.
It would be recalled that very recently, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs Committee, Senator Dahiru Kuta whose constituency is Suleja Local Government made a case in the National Assembly for the release of the council’s funds. Kuta said if urgent steps were not taken to force the Federal Government to release the withheld funds, the affected local government council would grind to a halt. “Since January 1, Suleja has been operating without a kobo from anywhere. Social services have deteriorated. Crime is on the increase because most of the council workers can longer meet their responsibilities. The local government is now grinding to a halt with staff deserting their offices looking for succor anywhere they can.”
A lawyer, Imam Hassan, told Weekly Trust that most of his clients are people who work in the city, but by the time they return home, it is curfew hour, so it means no business for him. “I cannot quantify the loss. We’re praying that the emergency rule is lifted soon. In fact, it’s an emergency situation.”