Shutdown takes toll on Abuja as WEF kicks off

 Shutdown takes toll on Abuja as WEF kicks off

*Roads deserted, shops locked up

Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, was shut down yesterday as the World Economic Forum (WEF) began. The usual hus­tle and bustle disappeared, leaving the roads deserted and many shops were locked. The Federal Government has ordered a three-day shutdown in view of the country’s security situation.

The only busy places in the city include,  Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Tanscorp Hilton Hotel (venue of the forum and accommodation), Sheraton Hotels and Towers (registration venue and accommodation), Rockview Hotel and some major hotels that also accommodate the high profile visitors.

Movements in these places were not restricted, but it was not so outside the hotels. Even taxis are very few because many residents believed the government does not want business premises to open during the three-day event.

Checkpoints were mounted at every 30 metres by personnel of the police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps,  the military and other security agencies.

The only thing that would guarantee movements is the WEF tag which indicates that the bearer is properly registered.

However, business activities withdrew to the satellite towns of Lugbe, Gwarinpa, Kubwa, Kuje, Gwagwalada, Zuba, Dutse Alhaji, among others. Daily Sun spoke to some taxi drivers on why many of them did not operate. One of them, Owolabi Adejare, said that they believed that during the work-free days, the government does not want cab drivers to operate.

Another taxi driver, simply called Uche, simply threw the question back at the reporter: “Where are the passengers?

But another cab driver, Mohammed, said soldiers barricaded many roads thus making it difficult for them to operate.

About 1,000 participants from over 70 African countries and about 13 Heads of State are expected at the forum.

The Director, Head of Africa (WEF), Elsie Kanza, said: “Over half of participants of the WEF are Africans and others from over 40 countries across the continents. Nigeria, as Africa’s largest economy and population, has a great role to play in the continent’s economy and social evolution”, she said.

Recent series of bomb blasts in the North-East and Abuja, the seat of power, almost marred the event. But the Federal Government had insisted that it must hold in the country, promising that water-tight security would be provided.

The theme of the conference is: ‘Creating jobs and inclusive growth’, which the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,  said was specifically structured to address issues relating to skills and education with emphasis on girls and women empowerment.

“We have a session on gender because we believe this is also very important for sustainable growth.    The country cannot really sustain its growth and move forward unless we also pay attention to these issues of girls, women, education and growth.  The country has had success in growing the economy over the past decade which is at an average of 7 per cent per year, but we know that the quality of the growth matters and it’s this quality of growth that we are going to discuss in WEF.

“We are going to talk  how we can get the growth,  create jobs;  how do we protect those at the bottom end of the ladder- special protection  and measures which include providing basic needs from health to education.

“Two initiatives are being launched by WEF and within that, we are going to see a new initiative of six schools being launched by the private sector in Nigeria.    Gordon Brown, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Education, President,   Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Publisher of Thisday,  Prince Nduka Obaigbena,  are going to launch Safe Schools Initiative    and this is  geared towards the North-East and will directly benefit our children,  particularly our girls in the  North-East”, Okonjo-Iweala said.

On the benefits of WEF, the minister said that there is a line-up of several initiatives such as the Grow Africa Initiative designed to enhance  agriculture production and health care initiative which would benefit the country.

“We are honoured that Nigeria is hosting this forum which is brought to West Africa for the first time. Nigeria is now the largest economy in Africa with GDP of $510 billion as of 2013; Nigeria’s economy is 76 per cent of ECOWAS economy, 30 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa and 21 per cent of Africa’s economy. This is a substantial chunk, so very meaningful that we have this in Nigeria”, Okonjo-Iweala, said.