Commercial activity around the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, remained slow on Monday, with civil servants and other workers yet to fully return to work after the recent break.

Traders expressed frustration over the sluggish business. Abdulhamid, a phone accessories seller, said in Pidgin English:

“You know, workers never come back; na why market no dey move. Even before Christmas, we suffer to sell… People dey complain say dem no get money, everything don cost.”

A security official at the secretariat, who preferred anonymity, noted that the normally busy premises and parking areas were unusually quiet:

“Normally, by this time, this place would have been full. But as you can see, there is no turnout… By next week Monday, everywhere should be filled up, and things will return to normal.”

Similarly, POS attendant Mrs. Adewale Dorcas reported a significant drop in her daily earnings:

“Normally by this time of the day, I would have done three times this turnover because people usually withdraw money for transport. But today has been very slow.”

Several ministries, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Finance, recorded very low vehicular movement, with findings around 9:00 a.m. showing only a few cars on the premises.

Despite the slow start, traders and service providers remain hopeful that normal business activity will resume as workers gradually return to their offices throughout the week.