Hotels in Abuja recorded low patronage as Muslims celebrate Eld-el-Kabir after alleged threat by Boko Haram sect to attack the city. Our correspondents, who went round major hotels in the city centre on Monday, report that security was beefed up at Abuja Sharaton Hotel and Towels, Transcorp Hilton Hotel and the Luxury Hotel in the city.

The hotels were devoid of the crowd synonymous with festive periods.

Some of the hotel staff said that the low patronage was not unusual, saying it had nothing to do with the threat.

“It is not unusual to have low patronage at a time like this because it is Sallah and most people are at home celebrating with their families,’’ the Duty Manager of Transcorp Hilton Hotel said on condition of anonymity.

She explained that those who needed to stay in the hotels were there, adding that activities were going on unhindered.

Meanwhile, motorists had to spend time with security operatives for their vehicles to be searched before driving into the hotel premises.

It was further gathered that major streets within the city centre were also devoid of heavy traffic as few taxis were seen plying the major routes.

In Gwagwalada, a satellite town in the FCT, buses filed the El-Rufai bus stop and other bus stops in the town as there were few passengers on the roads.

Transporters were seen lobbying few available passengers to board their vehicles, a contrast to what the situation used to be during festive periods when they normally took advantage of the large turnout of commuters to hike fare.