Air Force Operation Disrupts Abuja As Workers, Visitors Lament Lockdown At Eagle Square

By Tayo OLU On Feb 6, 2020

Commuters and motorists in Abuja have groaned at the situation around the Eagle Square at the Central Business District where a total traffic lock-down has prevented free movement of people to their places of work and other destinations.

The traffic lock-down was occasioned by the ongoing commissioning of the Agusta 109E (M) Power Helicopters and a Mi-171 E Combat Helicopter recently acquired by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

President Muhammadu Buhari, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, are among those attending the ongoing event.

President @MBuhari arrives Eagle Square for the induction ceremony of Nigerian Air Force 3 brand new combat helicopters. Under this administration, NAF has procured and inducted 22 fighter aircrafts and helicopter gunships, and 17 additional aircrafts are expected. pic.twitter.com/9HgIn5mHEi
— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) February 6, 2020

Some commuters who are trapped in the traffic jam have been taking to Twitter to advise residents of the federal capital to seek alternative routes to their destinations.

Below are some of the tweets:

Abuja central area is on lockdown today, all the major roads have massive traffic, practically at standstill. Especially around Eagle Square. Sorry for anyone having any important meeting to attend around that axis. Its total chaos like say na Lagos! ??
— Peacock (@dawisu) February 6, 2020

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Guys, AVOID secretariat/eagle square.

Our government is apparently commissioning three helicopters there and didn’t think to inform us.

Traffic there is a mess. People are walking.
— Chaos Merchant (@_Abdul_Malik) February 6, 2020

@Gidi_Traffic 07h55: All Roads leading to Eagle Square, Abuja,are closed due to ongoing rehearsals by men of the Nigerian Air Force ahead of the induction of newly acquired Agusta 109E (M) Power Helicopters & an Mi-171 E Combat Helicopter by 10 am today. President Buhari expected pic.twitter.com/PDArYELUFR
— AustynZOGS (@Austynzogs) February 6, 2020

Abuja people will hear it today, there's an event at eagle square and they've blocked every road close to that place. The ripple effect is mad!!
— Abimifoluwa (@bimfoluwa) February 6, 2020

Avoid eagle square and adjoining roads! It’s a hot mess
— Maleeka | مليكة رحمة (@MMetteden) February 6, 2020

Abuja people, if you haven’t left home yet and your route is secretariat/Eagle’s square, find an alternative.
The airforce is doing something at Eagle’s Square and that whole axis has been blocked.
— Idomagirl (@idomagirl) February 6, 2020

So because the president is expected to be at the Eagle's square today,the whole city is on a lock down! pic.twitter.com/jpEUlNcYbF
— The Draftsman. (@Olubhomie) February 6, 2020

The President is going to Eagles square so roads are cordoned off.

Go back to Mabushi and go down the mabushi bridge towards NITEL/Maitama junction and go down the bridge again after the 2nd Maitama entrance. That's Asokoro expressway. https://t.co/hMWYHuwQ5S
— King Donald (@FadaKrismas) February 6, 2020

This mad country,Nigeria airforce blocked some major road this morning.just because they want to do something in eagle square.mad people mad country. My reincarnation God not in Nigeria pic.twitter.com/DeaxeRnoqk
— Nour (@nurakaugama) February 6, 2020

Air Force Operation Disrupts Abuja As Workers, Visitors Lament Lockdown At Eagle Square ﻿

Below are some of the tweets:

Air Force Operation Disrupts Abuja As Workers, Visitors Lament Lockdown At Eagle Square