Economic activities have returned to the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) Abuja, as the 10 days nationwide hunger protest enters day nine.

QuestNews reports that most of the major roads that were practically empty on day one and two of the protest, now witness high vehicular movement.

QuestNews further reports that a good number of residents were seen going about their businesses.

The same level of activities were witnessed in towns around the FCT, including Mararaba, a border town between the FCT and Nasarawa State.

Some of the residents, who spoke to QuestNews, said they could not afford to close their businesses for long, saying it was not sustainable.

Mrs Josephine Godknows, a trader, who deals in food stuff in Orange Market, Nasarawa State, said she had to open for business because it was becoming difficult to sustain her family.

Godknows, a mother of four, said their food stuff began depleting on the second day of the protest and by the third day they had exhausted everything in the house.

“I am a petty trader and this is where the family feeds from.

“My husband is sick and has not been able to cater to the family for sometime now.

“When I heard that there will be a 10 day protest, I was able to get a few things to sustain us should there be restriction of movement.

“I am happy we can go about our daily activities now.”

Godknows called on the Federal Government to intensify effort to ameliorate the sufferings of the masses.

QuestNews further reports that business activities have also picked up at motor parks as more passengers were seen at the El-rufai Park in Nyanya and Gwagwalada Park.

Mr, Micah Yohana, one of the passengers at Nyanya Park, who was heading to Lokoja, said he was travelling to see his family.

“I usually travel to Lokoja every weekend to see my family but I was afraid to travel these few days for fear of escalation of the protest as it turned violent in some parts.

“The roads are now busy that is why I have decided to travel,”he said.

QuestNews reports that activities are, however, yet to fully commence in some government agencies, particularly agencies around the Federal Secretariat.

Also, activities at the National Assembly have been at the lowest ebb as only few workers reported to work.

A civil servant, who works at the National Assembly, said many civil servants had not reported to work since Aug. 1 for fear of attack.

The civil servant, a Secretary, who pleaded anonymity, said she reported to duty because her boss required her to carry out some secretariat jobs in the office.

“The National Assembly is usually one of the major targets during protests and with the fear of possible attacks during the protest, workers decided to stay away.

“In fact all the staff buses stopped plying the roads from July 31. They are all parked till after the protest.

“It was not easy for me to access the complex because I am not mobile and areas around the complex re partially cordoned off.

An aide to a lawmaker, who didn’t want his name mentioned, said the seven week recess embarked upon by the National Assembly contributed to the low turnout of people at the complex.

“Besides the partial restriction of movement in the National Assembly and the fear of possible attacks, the long vacation contributed to the poor turnout of staff.

“For instance, my principal informed us that he would be travelling for the vacation; so as it stands, some of us might not resume work regularly till his return.”

QuestNews reports that hundreds of people across Nigeria began a 10 day protest on Aug. 1, against the economic challenges in the country.

The protest, however, resulted in violence in some parts of the country, leading to the loss of lives and property.

As the protest enters day 10 on Saturday, Aug. 10, there are reports that protesters under the auspices “Take It Back Movement (TIB)” and other partner organisations, were set to hold a one-million-man protest across the country.

This development has heightened an already doused tension as some Nigerians, particularly business men and women have said they would remain indoors tomorrow to avoid the looting of their property.