… World Economic Forum: President Jonathan shuts public offices, Schools in Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan, in Abuja, on Friday, ordered the closure of all government-owned offices and schools in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, except those on essential services.

A terse statement issued on Friday night in Abuja by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, said the measure was to ensure 'free flow of traffic' and  the successful hosting of the World Economic Forum.

According to him, private organisations with large number of staff may also wish to close down.

He said, 'This is to inform the general public that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has approved, as part of arrangements for the successful hosting of the World Economic Forum Africa, that all government offices and schools in the Federal Capital Territory, except those on essential services, are to be closed from Wednesday, 7 to Friday, 9 May, 2014.

Private organisations with large number of staff may also wish to close down. This is to ease the flow of traffic within the city and enable participants to  carry out their assigned roles and participate actively at the World Economic Forum Africa.'

But Presidency sources said the decision might have been premised on security reports following the bombing of Nyanya, a satellite community within the FCT by suspected members of the Boko Haram Islmaic sect twice within two weeks.