Abuja Traders, Marketers Reject Hardship Protest

Traders, marketers, and shop owners across the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have rejected and distanced themselves from the planned nationwide protests, billed to commence on August 1, 2024.

The chairman of All Chairmen and Secretaries of FCT Markets and Plazas, Chief Raphael Okorie, chatted with newsmen and said the nationwide protests would disrupt their businesses, hence their reason for boycotting them.

Okorie, who doubles as the national coordinator of the Citizens Network for Peace and Development in Nigeria (CNPDN), said a series of meetings had been held with members of the various market unions in the FCT and security agencies to protect the markets.

He said protesters who are often sponsored usually attack businesses, shops, and markets during a mass action, thereby incurring losses for his members.

Okorie said arrangements are in top gear to protect their businesses by discussing with security agencies and other private arrangements ahead of the mass action.

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He called for understanding and urged FCT residents not to join the mass action, explaining that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should be given more time to address the concerns raised by many aggrieved Nigerians.

He said, “We understand that prices have gone up significantly. But this is not peculiar to only Nigeria. This is a global trend. I urge our people in the FCT not to join the protests. Instead, they should give the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu more time.

“As an association, we are not leaving anything to chance. We’ve been invited by the various security agencies on handling this, and we are openly saying that we don’t want to be part of the protests. We reject it. Instead, we ask that leaders of the various groups who want to protest should dialogue with the government.

“Violent protests will never solve problems. Only a dialogue will work, and I call on our members not to join. Instead, we call on them to protect their businesses and remain law-abiding. I believe President Tinubu is working hard to address these concerns,” Okorie said.