NEWS
Abuja’s Civil Servants Transform Eagle’s Square Car Park Into Mini Market
In the midst of adversity, Abuja’s resilient civil servants have turned Eagle’s Square Car Park into a thriving mini-market, showcasing their resourcefulness and adaptability.
The transformation of this once-underutilized space into a bustling marketplace not only reflects the resilience of the human spirit but also provides a glimmer of hope amid the prevailing hardships.
What was once a vacant expanse of concrete has now become a vibrant hub of commerce, offering a wide array of goods and services. From fresh produce and handmade crafts to mobile phone repairs and tailoring services, the Eagle’s Square Car Park mini-market has become a one-stop destination for both civil servants and visitors alike.
The atmosphere buzzes with activity as vendors proudly display their wares, demonstrating their determination to overcome adversity through entrepreneurship.
For them, the cost of finding proper stalls to set up their businesses and services is more expensive than selling out of the boots of their vehicles.
A salesman for electrical appliances, Ogbu Godwin, who started the business seven years ago, said it was his only source of income and livelihood, adding that although the business started small, he had had to diversify to survive.
“I am not a civil servant; this is the only business I do to survive. Usually, in a day before, we make like N3,500. Then we were only selling phone chargers, power banks and stuff like that. Now, we make as much as N10,000 from the sales of extensions, repairing phones, and selling chargers and power banks. If I had a store, half of that would probably go into settling dues, and I cannot afford that,” he added.
A civil servant, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said although she had been in service for over two decades, her jewellery and clothing business had “always been to make ends meet”.
She added that although her five children were old enough to fend for themselves, she engaged in the business to stay active.
She said, “The business has always been to make ends meet. Whichever way you look at it, the economy is biting hard. It is not as if we are making any gains; we are just doing it to stay active because we are growing old.
“We hardly make sales unless in the first week when they pay workers’ salaries. And then we don’t come during the weekends or public holidays. If not for the POS service that we added, sometimes we may not make sales for a whole week. And even that POS, our only gain is from the charges. The volume of business has reduced drastically. The only thing making money for me for now is my cold room, but the weather effects that too because when the rain falls, nobody sees a need to buy anything that is cold.”
Speaking on the legality of her business, she added, “The good thing about this is I don’t have to pay any taxes because I can’t imagine paying taxes from my government job and doing the same for this business. I pay my salesperson N500 per day, just so she also has enough to survive. The unfortunate reality is nothing is coming into the business. So, I pay her from my pocket. I pay the person overseeing my cold room N250 per day, depending on how he sells; so these are the issues.
“Everyone selling in this place is struggling; it’s not easy for anybody. We are all just trying to survive. Nobody is making a profit; nobody is having a field day in the business. We’re all just trying to survive at this time. At least I do this alongside my job, for some people this is their only source of income and they can hardly make ends meet”.
Another saleswoman, who identified herself only as Bose, sold herbal tea, coffee, perfume oils and skincare products out of the boot of her car.
She said although she was not a civil servant, she struggled to make sales on a daily basis.
According to her, the cost of setting up a business in the nation’s capital made her decide to use the boot of her car as her store.
“I am not a civil servant but I come here every day to sell my products. After all, we must survive this economy one way or another. You can’t blame us for selling in this manner. The cost of a full business setup is not something that is easily affordable. You know it’s Abuja; before we pay rent, fix the shop, and pay dues, where is the rest of the money to stock up and sell? Let’s not even talk about other costs: electricity, transportation, repairing damage, paying salesperson, and so forth. Overall, this is the cheaper option,” she added.
Asked about the risk of being picked up by the authorities of the FCT for violating any state codes against illegal marketplaces, Bose replied, “What are they going to do? ‘Demolish’ my vehicle the way they demolish illegal structures? This is a public place. Don’t I have rights?”
Mallam Ibrahim, who sold men’s clothing materials, also stated that the nation’s capital did not encourage the ease of doing business as everything was always too expensive and unaffordable.
“Just this week, I have spent over N20,000 on fuel. That is to transport to a business that is hardly putting anything back into my pocket. And then to set it up in an official store is even worse; it’s a cost I cannot even afford to think about. So, this is easier for me,” he said.
The Chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Danjuma Shekwolo, has clarified his controversial remarks in a viral video where he appeared to tell residents who do not support the All Progressives Congress (APC) to leave the council.
Shekwolo, who came under criticism following the circulation of the video, said his remarks were made in a specific context during a meeting with APC youths and loyalists and were subsequently taken out of context.
ALSO SEE: Abuja One-Chance Scare: How Criminals Turn Taxis Into Death Traps
In the viral footage, the chairman was heard saying: “I have said in my area council, it’s either you are doing APC or leave the area council. I am not arguing with you.”
The statement sparked concerns over political intimidation and residents’ freedom to support political parties of their choice, particularly as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, in a clarification issued on Wednesday, Shekwolo said he had no intention of disenfranchising residents or denying anyone their fundamental rights.
According to him, the meeting where the statement was made focused on administrative efficiency, local development and the welfare of communities within Kuje Area Council.
“The remarks in question were made in a specific context aimed at addressing administrative efficiency, local development, and community welfare. You may recall that event that led to the unfortunate incident was a meeting with the APC party youths and loyalties,” he said.
The chairman stressed that political affiliation could not be used as a basis for denying residents their rights.
“And as the Executive Chairman of Kuje Area Council, I have no right to disenfranchise any residents or citizen of their fundamental human rights in the council,” Shekwolo said.
He also denied any intention to create disaffection or undermine any group, saying his administration remained committed to serving all communities in Kuje.
“At no point did I intend to cause disaffection, undermine any group, or promote policies that do not serve the best interest of our citizens,” he said.
Shekwolo further appealed to residents and stakeholders to support the development of Kuje regardless of their political, religious or ethnic differences.
“I urge the people of Kuje Area Council and the general public, regardless of their political affiliation, religious, or ethnic difference, to join hands with the administration to make Kuje the area council of our dreams,” he said.
The chairman also appealed to journalists to verify the context of statements before publishing reports, describing the media and government as “partners in progress.”
The controversy followed widespread criticism of the original remarks, with rights groups and political actors raising concerns over the implications of linking residency in Kuje to political support.
The Federal Government has said Compressed Natural Gas can significantly reduce fuel and transportation costs, citing a traveller whose fuel expenditure reportedly dropped from more than N200,000 to about N40,000 after switching to CNG.
The Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, disclosed this on Wednesday after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
SEE MORE: FG, NADDC Empower NYSC Members in South-East with CNG Conversion Skills
Osanipin said the example demonstrated the potential of CNG to deliver substantial savings as the government expands infrastructure and access to alternative energy across the country.
He said the traveller was able to refill with gas in Kano, demonstrating the expanding availability of CNG beyond major commercial centres.
“So, a lot of people are already benefiting from this policy, and more and more will come now that we are having more people and more firms going into it and investing in it,” he said.
According to Osanipin, the number of companies licensed to retail gas had increased sharply from about four to 81, describing the development as evidence of growing private-sector participation in the Federal Government’s CNG initiative.
However, he acknowledged concerns that some commercial transport operators benefiting from lower CNG costs had yet to pass the savings on to commuters through reduced fares.
“We have a lot that are already doing it; fleet operators are already benefiting from this. So what we are pushing for again, because someone asked me that question, is that I have seen a lot of people benefiting from it, but they refuse to transfer the price to the masses.
“So that is going to be the next stage. But we just want to make sure that all the infrastructure and everything is coming. Then we now see enforcement of some of these policies,” he said.
Osanipin stressed that adequate infrastructure, including filling stations, mobile refuelling units and gas production facilities, remained critical to making the CNG initiative sustainable.
He also disclosed that the Federal Government had taken delivery of the first batch of electric vehicles promised to civil servants, describing it as the beginning of a broader rollout of cleaner-energy vehicles.
The Federal Government has begun the rollout of electric cars for civil servants with the delivery of the first batch of vehicles promised by President Bola Tinubu.
The Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, disclosed this on Wednesday after meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Osanipin said the arrival of the vehicles marked the beginning of a broader plan to expand electric mobility in Nigeria, reduce transportation costs and promote cleaner energy.
SEE MORE: ‘Painful Loss to Nigeria’ — Tinubu Mourns Eagle Online Publisher Dotun Oladipo
“Today, you must have heard in the news that the first batch of the electric vehicle that the President promised civil servants was delivered today, and they are all electric vehicles. This is the beginning of more and more that will come,” he said.
According to him, the government has also deployed electric-vehicle infrastructure in about 16 universities across the country to support the development of an ecosystem for alternative-energy transportation.
Osanipin said the government’s policies on electric vehicles and Compressed Natural Gas would become increasingly visible as investments in supporting infrastructure continue to grow.
He stressed that infrastructure was critical to the success of the alternative-energy transition, noting that CNG adoption, for instance, requires filling stations, mobile refuelling units and gas production facilities.
“You can’t put a policy in place today and start having the immediate impact,” he said, adding that investments were already being made in the required infrastructure.
The NADDC boss also disclosed that the number of companies licensed to retail gas had increased from about four to 81.
He described the development as evidence of growing private-sector participation in the Federal Government’s CNG initiative and said gas was becoming more available in some states.
Osanipin further highlighted the potential of CNG to reduce transportation expenses, citing the experience of a traveller whose fuel expenditure reportedly fell from more than N200,000 to about N40,000 after switching to CNG.
He said the traveller was able to refuel with gas in Kano, demonstrating the expanding availability of CNG beyond major commercial centres.
However, Osanipin acknowledged concerns that some commercial transport operators benefiting from lower CNG costs had yet to transfer the savings to commuters through reduced fares.
“We have a lot that are already doing it; fleet operators are already benefiting from this. So what we are pushing for again, because someone asked me that question, is that I have seen a lot of people benefiting from it, but they refuse to transfer the price to the masses,” he said.
He explained that the next phase of the government’s intervention would focus on ensuring that the benefits of cheaper alternative energy translate into lower transportation costs for Nigerians.
Osanipin said his meeting with President Tinubu also provided an opportunity to brief him on developments in the automotive sector, ongoing investments and a draft legislation being developed for the industry.
The Federal Government has continued to promote electric mobility and CNG as part of efforts to diversify Nigeria’s transportation energy mix, reduce dependence on petrol and diesel, lower transportation costs and cut emissions.
2027: Massive Turnout as Adebutu, Iyabo Obasanjo Kick Off PDP Campaign in Ogun
Funke Akindele, Ex-Husband JJC Skillz Reunite in Paris, Spark Reactions
Kuje Chairman Breaks Silence Over Viral ‘Leave If You’re Not APC’ Comment
2027: ‘You Said Remove Subsidy, Now You Want It Back’ — Adebayo Blasts Atiku
DPRP Decries Rising Fuel Imports, Despite Strong Local Supply Capacity
CNG Can Cut Fuel Cost From N200,000 to N40,000 — FG
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Tems Sets New Record On Billboard Hot 100 Chart
