Life returns to Abuja after polls

Activities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)  have started picking, and heading toward boom following the return of residents after the elections. Recall that the city dwellers had fled Abuja over fear that Abuja might be embroiled in post-election violence.
Many residents had deserted the city in spite of assurances by the government that the election would be free, fair and rancour-free.
Their fears were founded as the nation has a history of election-related violence that led to  destructions, intimidations and deaths.

Since the birth of the fourth republic in 1999, elections have been marred by violent protests leading to destruction of lives and property and instability in governance.
Not even foreigners were spared in the burry to escape any possible breakdown of order the same way Nigerians ran away. This caused a desertion of the city where economic and social activities thinned down.
The migration was even admitted by airline operators that said they recorded high traffic volume and more flights with passengers including foreigners and Nigerians travelling out of the country through the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos and Abuja.
Most beggars, petty traders and even hoodlums deserted the city to various locations. The beggars in Abuja were transported in trailers, luxury buses to various locations further north of the nation.expdonaloaded blog
The mass movement rendered the city desolate, half empty of both human and material resources.
A couple of residents foresaw the scarcity and stockpiled food materials in their homes whereas some petty traders sold out their wares and refused to open their shops during the period.
Oil marketers refused to lift fuel to Abuja and some northern states. This caused serious fuel scarcity in Abuja, the residents are still grappling with the effects..
According to the SSS, its investigation showed that the situation was as a result of fear by the National Association of Transport Owners, NARTO, that they might be caught in likely election violence as was witnessed in 2011.
“The Service has observed lately the build-up of queues at petrol stations. Investigation has revealed that trucks that would hitherto have loaded products from the South for distribution in the North are reluctant to do so. Consequently, Brigade Commanders, Police Commissioners and State Directors of the DSS have been directed by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), the IGP and the DGSS, respectively, to provide adequate security,” Marilyn Ogar, the SSS image-maker, said.
After the elections of March 28, 2015, and there was no violence, businesses in the city had started to crawl back, but after that of last Saturday, the city has bounced back fully.
Life has crept back into the city and shop owners are restocking. The roads are becoming busy again and the usual traffic gridlock on Nyanya-Keffi Road has come back in full force.
One of the returnees told Abuja Metro that she had to travel because she did not want to be caught off-guard. She made reference to the Kaduna riot of 2011 in which  she lost all her belongings.
“It was the Kaduna riot that brought us to Abuja. Before the elections in 2011, we lived in Kaduna. The post-election violence of that year claimed all we had because our house was burnt down. We escaped the pogrom with nothing. So, I cannot experience such a thing and still wait to witness a similar incident. God forbid,” she swore.
Another victim of post-election violence in Kano also recounted how his car was vandalized by a mob after the election.
“I am a taxi driver and when I heard that hoodlums were destroying and killing people on the road, I decided to go home. But unfortunately, the road I took had been blocked by them. When I saw them, I abandoned the car and ran. On getting home my family had deserted our home for safety. Later I met my family taking refuge in the barracks. After the riot, I discovered that my car had been damaged beyond repair,” he lamented.