Life returned to major cities in the country Saturday after a five-day crippling strike by labour and civil society groups to protest the increment in petrol price arising from the removal of subsidy on the product. People seized the opportunity of the two-day respite declared by the arrowheads of the nationwide protest before a possible return to the streets tomorrow, if the talks between the federal government and labour fail to break the deadlock, to stock up on food and to attend to urgent matters. There were long queues of motorists at many fuel stations that were opened to dispense petrol just as people thronged Automated Teller Machines to withdraw money. In Lagos, there were more activities in major parts of the metropolis, as markets re-opened and commercial vehicles returned to the roads. Traffic was, however, light as many motorists were stuck in queues at fuel stations that were opened to dispense petrol.Activities also returned to most major markets in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as traders displayed their wares awaiting customers. Some of them were seen counting their losses, as their shops had either been looted or completely razed down by fire, following clashes between warring miscreants in the area. A trader, Folake Oredusi, told THISDAY that the past one week had been hectic as her family had exhausted food and cash reserves at home. There were no queues in most fuel stations and ATM points visited by THISDAY, owing to claims that the strike prevented bank workers from replenishing the ATMs. Business and commercial activities also resumed in Kaduna following the relaxing of the 24-hour curfew imposed on the state capital, with residents trooping out to the markets to buy foodstuff and other basic needs. Many residents whose businesses were paralysed following the nationwide strike breathed a sigh of relief as normal activities picked up. The Central Market was opened for business while shops on the Ahmadu Bello Way were opened. Many commercial vehicles were back on the road, charging high transport fares. Only a few filling stations within the metropolis sold fuel at between N138 and N140 per litre, with few vehicles patronising them. Policemen and other security agents, however, were stationed at strategic locations in the metropolis to prevent a breakdown of law and order. Activities also picked up in Minna, the Niger State capital, following the suspension of the strike and relaxation of the 24-hour curfew imposed on the town. Many people cashed in on the opportunity to rush to ATM points and markets to get their needs. Traders, especially those who trade in perishables, seized the opportunity to make brisk business as prices of commodities rose by as much as 300 percent. Some of the markets and business centres in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, were opened early for business. Also, commercial vehicle operators and motorcycles resumed operations conveying residents to their destinations. However, soldiers were still stationed at some strategic places such as Gambari-Okelele, part of the state capital, to maintain law and order following the violent clashes on Thursday and Friday Business activities retur-ned to Enugu, Enugu State and Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, too. Residents in the both state capitals besieged cash dispensing machines to withdraw cash while motorists queued up at filling stations to refuel. Apart from the NNPC mega stations that sold petrol for N138 per litre, most private marketers sold at N180 per litre. Buyers thronged the Ogbete and Kenyata markets in Enugu metropolis to buy foodstuff in preparations for the possibly resumption of the strike from tomorrow. The cash dispensing machines located on Okpara Avenue, Zik Avenue, Abakaliki Road and Presidential Road, among others, had long queues. The situation was also the same in Abakaliki as residents engaged in what was described by eyewitnesses as panic buying in readiness for the planned “mother-of-all strikes” by labour. A resident, Mrs. Ogechi Alefia, said she was engaging in panic buying to avert what she experienced during the five-day strike last week. “It was really terrible for us. We couldn’t access the banks; we couldn’t practically do anything but we are hopeful that labour people will get something out of the meeting with the president this evening (Saturday) because the strike is biting very hard on the common man,” she said. Normalcy returned in Port Harcourt yesterday following the suspension of the nationwide strike. Residents of the Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt, who did not witness a complete shutdown of business and social activities intensified their interactions. A visit to the popular Yam Zone Market on Creek Road showed that traders were busy transacting business although not on the scale that they used to before the strike. Similarly, at the Mile One Market on Ikwerre Road, most traders and their customers turned up for business. Few motorists plied the road just as there were few passengers seeking to move around. Most filling stations on Aba Road did not sell petrol but there were long queues at the NNPC mega station at the intersection of Lagos Street in Port Harcourt.