Residents Take To Drinking To Stave Off Boredom

Many Nigerians, forced to stay indoors by the nationwide strike called by the organised labour to protest against the removal of fuel subsidy, have resorted to patronising bars in the early hours of the day.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who monitored the strike in Agbado, Ijoko and Sango areas, border towns between Ogun and Lagos States, reports that many residents now spend long hours at the drinking joints.

A civil servant, Mr. Laide Ogunesan, told NAN that he took to drinking in the morning because he was bored staying at home.

NAN observed that the bars, which prior to the strike opened for business at noon, now receive patrons as early as 9 a.m., in spite of the increases in the cost of drinks.

A bottle of Gulder beer, which was sold for N200 prior to the removal of fuel subsidy, now costs N250, while a big bottle of Guinness Stout goes for N350, up from the previous N300 it was sold.

The NAN correspondent also noticed the presence of some young and middle-aged women who were at the drinking joints in search of fun and money.

One of them, who claimed to be a trader, told NAN that she was at the bar in search of money to fend for her family, as she could not go to town to do her normal business.

A commercial motorcyclist, Mr. Abel Obadara, said business had been rough with the removal of fuel subsidy.

He said the strike had forced commercial motorcyclists to ply short distances.