Our night life, businesses ruined – Awka residents cry out

The Covid-19 pandemic ravaging the world has continued to have its toll on the economies of all nations including Nigeria.

Commercial activities in all the cities have also crumbled due to the pandemic.

Odogwublog.com looks at the effects of Covida -19 on Night life and businesses in Awka, the capital city of Anambra State.

Awka, the capital of Anambra State, was before now a centre for entertainment as night life and business blossomed.

Night clubs, hotels, eateries and beer parlors all made brisk business in almost every corner of the city with Abakiliki street now renamed Club road, due to the magnitude of night businesses going on there.

However, the ever busy city has become inactive as government took measures towards containing the Covid -19 pandemic.

A hotelier , Mr Oliver Ugwuowa recalls how he was smiling to the bank before this period.

Another respondent and palm wine bar operator , Mr Ndubuisi Eze said it has not been easy from sit at home to lockdown and now curfew.

“Nwoke Udi no longer make sells like before. But if you think of reducing your staff strength , you also consider the impact of the workers who may not have any other means of livelihood. Honestly it has affected everybody in the world.”

Mr Jude Okoye who operates a night club in Awka, says the pandemic was having a negative toll on his business.

They may not be the only ones affected as the situation has also led to the downsizing of staff working as sales personnel in those places.
A commercial sex worker in her account said the recent Curfew imposed by the Federal Government closed her source of livelihood.

Two disk Jockies, mr Obinna Okoko Dj Slam and Onyebuchi Ofora Dj Buchiano said the situation has also crippled their business as they no longer get to play in night parties and relaxation joints.

Covid-19 have affected us badly , no party, no club, nobody calls DJs now. We pray this whole thing will pass”

Mr Author Mbuba, whose wife operate a relaxation joint around Y junction, Awka appealed to government to consider special stimulus package for small scale business owners to encourage them to remain in business .

“The people in the entertainment industry is the worst hit. If you buy meat and did not finish selling it, with this epileptic power supply we have here, all the perishables will spoil the next day and you keep incurring debt” People are no longer coming due to the curfew”.

A beer parlor operator, lady Constance Ukwuoma , regretted she no longer makes enough sales to pay her bills.

” this covid-19 stuff is really affecting me, i am running a whole lot of bills, owing so many people including the woman that brings stuffs for me . i dont even have money for my children to eat. Seven oclock everybody will startqq packing as if there is going to be a war”.

The respondents appealed to the federal and state governments to come up with economic stimulus package that would also help to ameliorate the effects of the continued containment measures on them as they were before now contributing to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP.