Nigeria At 52: Eagle Square Wears New Look

Ahead of Nigeria’s 52nd independence celebration  today the Eagle Square, Abuja, the usual
venue of the celebrations, is calm with no sign of activity.

A check by our correspondent at the venue on Saturday showed
that the usual rehearsals and heavy presence of securitymen ahead of previous
celebrations were missing.

The Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, had on Sept. 3,
announced that 2012’s celebration would be a low-key affair.

He said the decision was in line with the transformation
agenda of the current administration which frowns at flamboyant and unnecessary
spending.

However, some of Abuja residents, who spoke to our correspondent, said the planned low-key celebration was not unconnected with the security situation in the country.

Said Wale Olaye,you never can tell what will happen; you
don’t know who is planning what, so, the best thing is to cancel march past and
other activities associated with the day.