Nigeria loses N770bn as protests ground Lagos, others
Air, seaports closed Delta, Africa World Airlines, Kenya Airways cancel flights
As the #EndSARS protests bite harder, businesses and the government in Lagos have lost over N770 billion, relevant authorities said yesterday.
The grounding of activities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMA), the blockage of major routes leading to various seaports, the partial closure of some markets and big malls as well as the closure of schools and other places that offer essential services is taking a toll on Lagos, the business hub of Nigeria.
Findings revealed that small business owners in Lagos who survive on daily earnings are beginning to vent their frustration over their inability to access their business locations owing to road blockage by the protesters.
The major entering route, the Lagos Ibadan expressway was practically inaccessible for the better part of last week. Same goes for the Ikorodu Expressway from where a sizable number of the workforce on the Mainland and Island commutes daily.
Even for those who live within Ikeja, movement has become impossible because they have been trapped.
The Lekki-Ajah axis is not different, as the toll gate leading to that axis has been occupied by the protesters, who have made it impossible for workers to get to their offices from the Lekki, Ajah and beyond.
Mohammed Isa, a small business owner, said: “Peaceful protest is an ingredient of democracy. Blocking roads, disrupting innocent peoples’ businesses and causing unnecessary hardship on other Nigerians is unacceptable. Find an isolated place and protest to your heart content or target the presidential villa, National Assembly, and places of the elite.”
Reports have it that the Lagos State Government had so far lost at least N234 million to the closure of toll gates since the #EndSARS protests started.