29th December, 2010
Business activities picked up in Lagos metropolis on Tuesday as the Christmas holiday drew to a close, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
NAN reports that supermarkets and boutiques stocked with household items and clothes were opened for business.
Similarly, sellers of food items such as rice, beans, garri and soup condiments were back in business at Ketu, Oyingbo, Apapa road, Oshodi, Ijora and Ojuelegba.
NAN reports that patronage was, however, low as most people were yet to return to the city from their Christmas journeys to the hinterland.
Also, only a few service shops like business centres and salons opened for business, while bank customers were seen making use of their ATM cards to withdraw money at various bank premises.
Majority of the sales attendants in most of the shops who spoke to NAN complained of low patronage.
They said, however, that they were aware of the public holiday but they have to make ends meet as they have exhausted the money on them during the Christmas celebration.
Mr. Uche Okechukwu, a sales attendant in one of the spare parts shops at Oyingbo said that he came out to hustle as usual to know if he could make some money.
He said that he did not travel to his home town for the Christmas because of the high transport fare.
“I know that today is public holiday. I came out to the shop to hustle and see if l can make some quick and cool cash to replenish my pocket.
“My pocket is dry now having spent much on Christmas day drinking and enjoying myself with friends and family,†he said.
Okechukwu said, however, that patronage has been low as only few car owners have come around to buy or do one repair or the other.
Mr. Kola Adetunji, a foodstuff seller at Apapa Road, said that he had no other option than to open for business today.
“Yes, l know that today is a public holiday, but you can see that l am not a government worker, so, l can choose whether to open my shop or not.
“It is one of my customers that made me come out today and l am very grateful as the patronage has been quiet good. In short, l am happy that l came out today,†he said.
Mrs. Iyabo Ade, the owner of a small provision store, said that she came out to keep herself busy as she was tired of staying at home.
