Businesses have been closed in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, with many retail stores in the city not opening as of 8am on Thursday, the first day of nationwide protest against misrule in Nigeria.
The worst affected areas are Ikot Ekpene Road, Oron Road and Wellington Bassey Way, which leads to Government House, Uyo.
Ibom Plaza, a popular shopping mall in Uyo, is deserted this morning.
Meanwhile, the nationwide protest has yet to begin in the city at the time of filing this report, but police officers were seen at strategic positions in the city.
At a meeting earlier in the week, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State had asked youths in the state not to join the planned protest, assuring that his administration was taking steps to address the hardships facing the people of the state.
President Bola Tinubu also called on the youth to stop their protest, and some officials in his administration said the protest was politically motivated.
Protest organizers, who are using social media including X (formerly Twitter) to mobilize people, are demanding the reversal of gasoline price increases, the restoration of affordable electricity rates and the reduction of import tariffs.
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Although the protest has not yet started in Uyo, some police officers on duty are seen welding guns and tying red armbands.