Traders on Saturday took advantage to make brisk sales around the Eagle Square, venue of the National convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that traders such as food and drink vendors, clothing, shoes and other items took over both the middle and walk ways of Tafawa Balewa way.

NAN also observed that vehicular movement was restricted along the street as well as Shehu Shagari way making it easier for the traders to set up their tents.

The areas from around the Ministry of Finance down to Federal Secretariat phase one was fully occupied by the traders.

Some traders who spoke to NAN expressed optimism that the convention would help them make pumper sales.

Mrs Agnes Bala, a food vendor said that she had been selling since Friday night since many of the party supporters slept inside their vehicles around the venue.

Bala added that even though there were competitions because of the number people that sell food within the area, patronage had been good.

She commended PDP for the opportunity to make some money, saying that such kind of event was an avenue for business opportunities.

“I thank God for today because, we are selling very well because of the large number people that are here.

“Even though we are many here market is still moving well. So I believe that we will make enough sales before the end of the convention.

“We are not selling it too expensive because we sell a plate for between N300 and N500 depending on what you eat.”

Another trader, Mallam Aliu Adamu, who sells clothing materials and shoes, said that he expected to make good sales during the event.

Adamu said that the event would afford him opportunity to sell especially as a lot of party supporters could have need to change their clothes or shoes.

He also said that since Christmas was already approaching, a lot of the party supporters would like to shop for their loved ones.

According to him, you know that they are going to make money from here and we are here to get part of it by selling our goods to them.

A vendor of PDP caps, tags and hand bands, Mr Innocent Akuriene, said he had sold over 30 units of cap, more than 55 tags and other items.

According to him, many party members would want to carry some things that have PDP symbol and that is why he decided to produce the items.

A party supporter, Ahmed Sanusi, said he came from Bauchi State to support his party and expressed confidence that the convention would bring about stability in the party.

Sanusi said he had been eating from the food vendors since on Friday, adding that the food were not too expensive contrary to what he expected.

He said that he believed in PDP to take over power from the ruling party in 2019.

Security is tight at the venue, which has been condoned off by Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), which took charge of security.

Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) are also on hand to control movement of persons and vehicles.

Only accredited vehicles conveying the delegates were allowed into the arena.

All roads leading to the Eagle Square were barricaded, making delegates, supporters and vendors to walk more than two kilometres to get to the venue.

The PDP had on Wednesday alerted the nation of plan by some persons to disrupt the convention.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Dayo Adeyeye, who made it known at a news conference in Abuja, alleged that members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were plotting the disruption of the event.

He exonerated the leadership of the APC, especially President Muhammadu Buhari, saying that the attack at the venue of the convention was being plotted by persons in the lower rung of the party.

However, delegates, party supporters and the traders conducted themselves orderly as they were all monitored by the security operatives to ensure that there was no breach of regulations.

One of the operatives told NAN on condition of anonymity that they had instructions to remain alert and ensure that nothing went wrong. (NAN)

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