ASO CHRONICLE

Every Wednesday, the Nyanya Bridge, Motor Park and Expressway is habitually swarmed with people said to be overflowing from the market. The roadside is usually filled with traders displaying mostly used clothing, shoes and other materials to attract customers. Some residents have described the market as a typical Lagos’ Oshodi in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The market, the nucleus of commercial activities in the area, is gradually going into oblivion no thanks to explosions that have been rocking Nyanya, one of the most populated satellite towns in the territory. The blasts are taking the shine off the market.

Though no explosion has occurred in the market itself, residents said they are now careful going to crowded areas as part of security measures.

This fear is hinged on the fact that all the three explosions that happened in Nyanya between 2014 and 2015 were just few metres from the market area and fortunately, they did not happen on market days.

Usually, on Wednesdays, traders and their customers brim the roadsides, sometimes leading to traffic congestion.

“On Wednesdays, I leave my house earlier before the market but now the road is freer because activities in the market have slowed down due to the repeated bombings of the area and the heavy presence of security personnel henceforth,” Wale Adegboyega, a civil servant that resides in Nyanya said.

While Wale could heave a sigh of relieve, many traders, customers and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) revenue collection officers’ lose sleep over the drastic reduction of trading activities in the market.

Many traders have found alternative markets to sell while customers too said they now prefer to drive to the city to buy their wares.

AMAC officials at the market said they visit the market only because they are mandated to do so. The market, which used