Some FCT residents on Saturday said they had so far been unable to travel out of the territory for the Eid-El-Kabir celebration because of “the country’s harsh economic situation’’.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who visited the Jabi Motor Park in Abuja, reports that it was devoid of the usual rush expected ahead of the celebration.
The celebration is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 15 and Wednesday, Oct. 16, with both days already declared as public holidays by the Federal Government.
But only few passengers were seen trying to board vehicles to travel out of Abuja as at Saturday.
A resident, Mrs Lami Abubakar, said she earlier planned to travel with her family to the village but had to abort the trip.
“Times are hard and I have no money,’’ she said.
Abubakar, who is also a civil servant, said the situation was worsened by the fact that most workers’ salaries had not been paid.
“Though it is not yet the end of the month, but I am still optimistic that salaries will be paid before Tuesday.
“But, if salaries are not paid, it will not be easy for me and my family. We want to travel, because this is the only opportunity we have before the end of the year’’ she said.
Another resident, Alhaji Sule Usman, said it had always been a tradition for him to travel during the festive season but could not do so because of lack of funds.
Miss Christy Osakwe, a resident and a trader, decried the “harsh economic situation’’ in the country, saying it had prevented her from travelling to spend the Eid-el-Kabir holiday with her family.
“Business has not been going too well as I don’t get enough patronage due to the harsh economic condition,’’ she said.
Osakwe appealed to the Federal Government to put sound economic policies in place so as to enhance Nigerians’ purchasing power.
Mr Peter Osahon, a civil servant, said he would have preferred to travel this weekend to avoid the rush on Monday, Oct. 14, which is the eve of the Eid-el-Kabir holiday.
“Salaries have not been paid, and this has stopped me,’’ he said.
Osahon appealed to the Federal Government to pay salaries before the Eid-el-Kabir celebration to enable many FCT residents travel out of Abuja to be with their loved ones.
An official of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr Gabriel Oke who spoke to NAN, decried the low turnout of passengers at the motor park.
Oke, who is the union’s treasurer, blamed the low turnout on lack of funds, saying “people don’t have money, and they cannot travel. Is it not those who have money that can travel?
“I wish government will pay salaries before the holiday, so that we can get passengers,’’ he said.
At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, it was also devoid of the usual rush as few passengers were seen at the departure lounge waiting to board their flight.
An information officer with one of the airlines, who declined to give his name, told NAN that there was no increase in the booking of flights.
