Kafanchan (Kaduna) – Barely two days before the Eid-el-Kabir, Nigerians have begun to plan its celebration in different styles.
In Kafanchan, owners of relaxation spots on Saturday said they were prepared to thrill fun seekers during the celebration.
Some of the operators of the spots who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said they had planned adequate security for customers.
Mr Carson Mira’s of Cristal Palace Spot, Madakiya road, Kafanchan, told NAN that the outfit was collaborating with the police and its private guards to ensure security within the festive period.
“With the security threats in parts of the country, we want to ensure that our customers are relaxed and not tensed in any way,’’ he said.
Mrs Maureen David who operates a restaurant along NEPA roundabout, Kafanchan, expressed optimism that insecurity posed no threat to her business.
Also, Miss Helen Francis, who owns an amusement park for kids, said everything had been set to give the children memorable celebration.
Irrespective of this development, a visit by NAN to some of the tailoring outfits on Saturday revealed that the tailors had recorded low patronage.
Alhaji Isa Ladan, a tailor at the Kafanchan market, said that he only had about five sets of cloth materials to sew in the past one week.
“I have even offered to sew on credit, yet the patronage is not encouraging. People are more concerned with what to eat now than what to wear,’’ he said.
However, in Sokoto State, the state government said it had disbursed more than N11 million for the purchase of cows for the provision of meat to 4, 205 orphans on the Eid-el Kabir as part of the celebration.
The Chairman of the State Zakkat and Endowment Committee, Alhaji Lawal Maidoki, said in an interview that N130, 000 was given to each of the 85 districts, in the 23 local governments of the state.
But in Gombe State, rams sellers have complained about low patronage of customers.
The Chairman Animal Dealers Association, Bogo Market, Malam Bala Sallau, told NAN that the customers were not patronising them like that of last year due to the economic situation in the country.
He said a ram sold for N70, 000 last year could be sold for between N45, 000 and N50, 000 this year, depending on the size of the ram.
Alhaji Bello Mabel, one of the customers, observed that rams were cheaper this year when compared with the last year’s sale.
In Zaria, a ram seller, Malam Aliyu Babankarfi, described economic recession as one of the factors responsible for the low patronage.
“The present economic recession has now become a threat not only to ram sellers but to all business activities in Nigeria.
“Another factor is, before, politicians used to buy ram in large numbers and distribute to people free of charge, but this year the case is not the same,’’ he observed.
Report from Auchi, Edo, also indicates that ram sellers in Etsako West and East Local Government Area of the state record low patronage.
NAN, however, observes that prospective buyers who were able to buy ram last years are buying goat or chicken due to the high cost of ram.
A ram seller, Alhaji Yusuf Usman, said he sold only 10 of the 40 rams he brought weeks ago.
A prospective buyer, Mr Ibrahim Sadiq, said he could only buy chicken as he could not afford ram due to the high cost.
“Food items are very expensive, I came to buy ram only to discover that the price had gone up so I have to settle for chicken due to the prevailing economic situation,’’ he said.(NAN)
Repoters/YETI/KAY
(Edited by Yetunde Bada, Kayode Olaitan)