Workers Day: FCT residents troop out to exercise, embark on road walks
In the early hours of Monday, many residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) engaged in exercising at roadsides and gyms while others embarked on road walks.
As Nigeria celebrates the International Workers Day, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) monitored different locations in the FCT including gyms and sporting centres.
Many residents were seen jogging along Area 1 to Durumi roundabout, Kubwa express and its environs, while some were seen using the pedestrian bridges at Gwarimpa/Kubwa express for their workouts.
At Durumi roundabout, a couple who identified themselves as Mr and Mrs Osakwe, said that the workers day break gave them a reason to exercise.
Osakwe said he loved to keep fit but had found it challenging to exercise regularly due to the nature of his job, hence the reason he took advantage of the one day holiday.
He said he and his wife were at that location because his house was not far from the roundabout and he also saw the fitness walk as a time to bond with his wife as they chatted while keeping fit.
John Olayinka, who was seen jogging up and down the stairs of the Gwarimpa pedestrian bridge, said that engaging in physical exercise was also a way to celebrate workers in Nigeria.
Olayinka said that most public and private sector workers saw the break as an opportunity to workout and keep fit for work days ahead.
Hajiya Hauwa Haruna, who was spotted with her two young daughters taking a long walk inside Kubwa, said that boredom at home inspired her to come out for the exercise with her daughters.
Haruna said she used to love fitness exercises when she was young but had drastically reduced keeping fit after she got married.
She said she had encouraged her husband who is a workaholic to join them, adding that he instead insisted to maximise the holiday in having a long indoor rest.
A visit to a fitness centre in Kubwa, revealed an array of age range exercising for both outdoor and indoors.
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The owner and gym instructor, Mr Onyeka Umeh, told NAN that the gym was exceptionally jam-packed because of the public holiday.
Umeh said that the gym members, who have been absent for a while, were now present because it was a day off for workers.
One of the gym members, who pleaded anonymity, said that she worked with a Federal Government parastatal and was glad workers were given May Day holidays.
She said her desire was for more work free days quarterly to enable citizens who battled with time to keep fit and rest properly.
