By Harry Awurumibe, Head, Abuja Bureau
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja recorded a high degree of compliance in the first day of the Federal Government ordered two weeks total lockdown of the city and its environs to stem the spread of the novel Coronavirus pandemic ravaging the world.
Prompt News can confirm that most Abuja residents on Tuesday religiously observed the seat at home order as both the major roads and inner streets were deserted.
It was observed that the usual Abuja “rush hours of 7am to 9 am” was lacking today as the roads were devoid of human and vehicular activities for the most of the the day.
A drive around the Abuja metropolis up to the time of filing this report showed that there was a high percentage of compliance of the stay at home order by the Federal Government.
Residents of Abuja city, the seat of Federal Government observed the order to the fullest as places like Apo, Asokoro, Maitama, Lokogoma, Galadimawa, Games Village, Wuse, Garki and Gwarimpa, etc were in total lockdown mode.
But what may have discouraged residents from disobeying the directive was the heavy presence of security agencies like the Army, Police, Civil Defence, Road Safety and even Traffic Wardens on the roads.
Expectedly, road blocks were set up by state operatives at most roads to checkmate abuse of the order just as vehicles are being stopped to ascertain the occupants and reasons for being on the road instead of staying at home.
While some security operatives were polite in handling the motorists at one place, others at different locations were not.