Follow Us on Google
• Mad rush as travellers take advantage of FG’s 50% cut in fares
By Cosmas Omegoh
Some days ago, the frenzy was on and the atmosphere electric. Nigerians across the regions were getting ready to go into the grove of Christmas and the New Year celebrations.
Both events are annual rituals that unarguably lift the soul and spirit, and keep all and sundry elated.
But in the build up to the last seasons, the air around most people seemed to suggest that the celebrations might be marred by an array of prevailing challenges. Even when the seasons being expected are characterised by joy and happiness, there was still palpable anxiety that tended to pervade the land. So much was pointing to a gloomy Christmas and New Year; there were fears that both celebrations might be marred because of uncertainties.
It would be recalled that in the days that were to follow, and even now, many people complained that they had little or no money to even have a decent meal a day, talkless of celebrating Christmas. Inflation was riding high; prices of goods and services were frighteningly skyrocketing. Cost of transportation on many routes had risen astronomically. Most people were wondering how they would make it home even after the Federal Government had announced a 50 per cent reduction in fares. Cost of air ticket was also very high. Then came the fuel scarcity challenge; where the commodity was seen, the price per a litre was equally exorbitant. For those who were still ready to make it home, one other challenge was up on their mind – insecurity. There were concerns of safety on the roads and in the towns and villages, with many afraid of the menace of kidnappers, robbers, and other felons. However, many people travelled for the season; everyone celebrated right at their various corners. People have been speaking about their experiences, relating how things went down in their respective towns.
One of the persons who did not celebrate Christmas in his native Awo Idemili community in Anambra State, is Mr Eze Onyeka.
He stayed back in Lagos State because of the insecurity challenges that has bedeviled his area. He told Sunday Sun that over the past one year, he had not visited home for fear of the challenges between the security agencies and the ‘Umuoma boys’ and the Ebubeagu outfit.
He disclosed that oftentimes, young boys were visited in the dead of the night, whisked away and killed and in some cases their bodies are not recovered.
“If you visit most communities in the Awo Idemili clan and other areas within the axis, only women, children and the aged are the ones around. Many youths have fled the area.
“This season, a good many of us stayed away from home. We celebrated the Christmas and New Year in the cities.
“Every now and then, you call home; if what you are told about the situation is not good enough, what do you do? Do you go and stick your head in crisis? No, you stay back where you are!” he said.
He said that he celebrated the seasons in Lagos while hoping that things would improve in the New Year.
From what Rev. Robert Tonborokai told our correspondent, the Christmas and New Year celebrations went well in Adamawa State.
Tonborokai, a clergy man of the Lutheran Church based in the state, said that he was shocked that people still had as much money to spend, while thanking God there were no security issues during the Yuletide.
“Christmas here was peaceful and full of celebrations.
“There were no fears of any insecurity challenges. Adequate measures were taken against that by the security agencies and the state government in particular. And we were happy about that,” he enthused with excitement ringing in his voice.
He recalled that there were fears that the people would not see cash to spend a few week to Christmas, but that soon came to pass.
“Early in December, we feared that the season would be marred by lack of cash, but as we entered the second week of the month, things changed. People had money to spend.
“People made money and came prepared for celebrations. I was rudely shocked that people had the sort of money I saw them spending.
“I had reasoned that with the hardship being experienced in the economy, many people would not have money to spend, but I was wrong.
“People spent lots money at Christmas on things that made them happy. Can you imagine that some people spent as much as N5,000 on firecrackers. I’m talking about the ones that will just crack five times; some people were blowing four of such a night; it was amazing,” he said.
He disclosed that the people did not have challenges with transportation, although the 50 per cent cut in transport cost ordered by the Federal Government didn’t work there.
The state government under the watch of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, he said, provided buses that conveyed indigenes from major towns in the North to Yola.
“We didn’t have any of the Federal Government transport cost reduction.
“But the state governor provided buses earlier on. They conveyed people from Abuja to Yola. Many of them were shuttling between Yola and major towns in the state.
“We thank God that the Christmas and New Year were well celebrated. It went well here. We look forward to another,” he declared.
But the situation was not all that rosy, according to what another clergy man, Pastor Kim Jacob, who lives in Kafanchan, Kaduana State, said.
“Christmas and New Year celebrations here were quite somber.
“Yes, the atmosphere here was quit calm and peaceful, but the truth is that people didn’t have money to spend.
“Some people complained that they were not even paid their December salaries. So, they had little or no money to spend.
“Of course, on Christmas day, I went out with my son, and we could see that the roads were empty. You could put out your mats out there and pray. Most people were inside their homes marking the season quietly.
“We visited the market and saw that it was empty. Even the motor park was empty; there were just few travellers.
“About that time of the year, people used to travel a lot. But we couldn’t see any of such.
“I, in particular, have never spent Christmas in Kafanchan; this was the first time I was spending the season in the area,” he said.
To underline the reality of the situation, he added: “Days ago, someone sent an advertisement offering to sell some live chickens to me. That tells you that they were not sold during the last season. That tells you the story.”
In Lagos on Christmas day, the street market on Jakande Gate – Ijegun expressway was full of traders.
Nothing suggested that Christmas was in the air. People kept hustling.
“Some of us have goods that must be sold.
“Can you celebrate when you have no money in your pocket? That is why you are seeing very many people out here. It looks like there are no celebrations, but that is the situation,” an orange seller, Musa, told our correspondent.
On New Year’s day, a commercial motorcycle rider who identified himself as Emma was out plying his trade.
“I’m a Christian and ought to be home celebrating with my family, but we don’t have money to do that.
“In fact, this okada riding you see me doing now is on a part time basis. I do that just to feed my family.
“Today is a great day, but we don’t have any money to feed,” he said.
When our correspondent asked him to come into the house and take a bottle of soft drink, he quietly said: “Thank you Oga; but how l wish you could monitise that for me.
“If I drink or eat now and get filled, what do I tell my family back at home when I arrive? That is why I’m out to see if I could grab something to help them have a feel of the New Year.”
A manager of one the transport companies that implemented the 50 per cent cut in transport fares who did not want to be identified, said that the offer worked as they took part in it and witnessed several thousands of people benefiting from it.
His words: “We took part in the offer. It expired on January 4.
“We collected the normal fare which was N18,000 on our luxury buses.
“If not for that, we could have collected N32,000, and then N35,000 like other companies that were not a part of the offer. Now that has expired and the rush by passengers travelling out of Lagos to the East is reducing, we are charging N23,000.”
He said that not minding the purported cash crunch in the economy, a lot of people travelled home to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.
“People turned out in their numbers rushing home. Some people who had an idea of the Federal Government offer benefited, and we had a hectic time managing them.
“We could only carry those we could carry on every trip. Those who couldn’t make it any day waited for the next.
“We issued them tickets with their phone numbers on it in case the Federal Government wants to reach them for investigation. They can call them.
“We also made a video of the passengers which we will send to Abuja,” he said.
