Notwithstanding the economic challenges, some Nigerians created time to unwind at various beer parlours, pepper soup joints and at shopping malls in celebration of Christmas on Monday.
Checks by The Point across some cities revealed that the hard times, posed by the persistent naira scarcity, food inflation, and impact of fuel subsidy removal, did not rob some Nigerians of the joy of the religious festival.
Christmas is a period set aside yearly to mark the birth of Jesus Christ. It is more than a Christian holiday, festival or an occasion to decorate houses or streets but provided opportunity to believers and non-believers to pause, reflect and give thanks for the love, hope and joy in Jesus, the Saviour and friend of man.
It is also a period for long distance traveling, visit to fun centres, sharing of gifts, materials, food items and cash to loved ones, the less privileged, strangers and families, as well as wining and dining, all to appreciate one another in the spirit of the season.
Following the “Nigeria Multidimensional Poverty Index’’ released by the National Bureau of Statistics last year, the number of Nigerians living in poverty stands at over 133 million. NBS said the figure represents 63 per cent of the nation’s population.
However, the hardship did not deny many citizens of the joy of the celebration, judging by the bleak proposition.
In Osogbo, capital of Osun State, many fun-seekers were seen at various beer parlours, other drinking joints, shopping malls and recreational centres to catch fun, relax and socialise.
When The Point correspondent visited Lameco area, Oke-Fia, Odi-Olowo, Fakunle, and other areas that house one form of fun centre or the other, the places were filled to capacities with Nigerians, mostly males, dinning and winning.
“You are right that there is economic hardship in Nigeria but we cannot kill ourselves or allow the situation to affect our psyche, we need to unwind and catch fun, especially at this time that the whole world is celebrating Christmas. So, that is why I visited here (a fun park at Fakunle area of Osogbo) to celebrate with my family members,” a fun-seeker simply identified as Bode told The Point.
Another resident who was at a beer parlour in Odi-Olowo area of the capital city, James, said, “I always visit here. The crowd is much today because of Christmas but the economic problem in the country cannot stop Nigerians from enjoying themselves when they have the means. We are only hopeful for a better Nigeria.”
