•Abuja food vendors, owners of relaxation joints, restaurants in distress over dwindling sales
From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
Operators of restaurants and other relaxation points in Abuja are in serious distress. Their businesses are currently experience a significant drop leading to very low patronage.
They fingered decision of their Christian customers to engage in the annual New Year fasting and prayers proclaimed by some Pentecostal churches, as the cause of their woes.
They lamented that their customers stayed away from their shops because of the on going fasting and prayers proclaimed by most churches. Restaurants and relaxation joints whose major customers are Christians felt the negative impact of this spiritual exercise most.
A restaurant operator at Liberty Junction, Kubwa, Joy Adeh, aka “Kpai Kpai,” said: “The experience is not new to me. We always prepare consciously and otherwise for this period because a large percentage of our customers are Christians, most of who are members of Pentecostal churches that are currently on this spiritual journey. We try to change our menu this period to accommodate their interests.
“I cannot deny the fact that the fasting has affected my monthly sales. Nevertheless, it is very good for people to consciously participate in the exercise for divine protection and provision in the New Year.”
Madam Edo sells fried yam and beans cake at Utako Market said: “I have not seen many of my customers for weeks now. When I saw one of them a few days ago and I was curious on why she has avoided my shop but she could not respond.
“I became uncomfortable until a friend of hers whispered to me that they were fasting. I prayed that God would answer us all because I’m also observing mine.”
Eunice is a food vendor at the Federal Secretariat Car Park, Abuja. She claimed she hardly make half of her former sales these days: “I appreciate God that some churches will be through with fasting this week.
“I pray that God will answer all their prayers and address the current situation in the country. Because if it continues the way it is going, most households may be forced to separate.
“For some past few weeks, it has been cases of domestic violence in the country. Many of them can be attributed to economic hardships. I pray that God should touch the hearts of the leaders to make favourable policies that will improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians.”
Owner of IJ Babe Bar owner, Wuse Zone 6 said she hardly sell up to half quantity of what she used to sell, especially alcohol. “Most of my customers have turned Saints because of the fasting.
“I am not against the exercise but it has really reduced the flow of my business. Thank God most churches will be concluding this week and I pray to answer us all our prayers.”
General Overseer, Jesus Solution Ground Ministry, Kubwa, Pastor John Aho, admonished Christians on the huge benefits of fasting and prayers in facilitating answers to prayers. He challenged church members to isolate themselves from the “world” in this period, pray and fast, also deny themselves some temporary pleasures and await unexpected favours and blessings from God.
“God told me Nigeria will be great again,” he urged Christians to be spiritually conscious: “The devil is also fighting to stop them from partaking in the good life that God is about to release for Nigerians.”
A senior pastors who did not want his name in print said: “Benefits of the (fasting) exercise are numerous. Only those who conscientiously participate are entitled to the rewards.
“The annual exercise has become a major spiritual activity in the calendar of many Pentecostal churches in Nigeria. This confirmed that the directive is from God. That is why He backs it up with numerous signs and wonders to prove Himself.”