Ramadan: Operators of joints record low patronage in Kogi
Operators of rendezvous joints, including pepper soup and drinking centres in Kogi State, have begun to feel the impact of the Ramadan fast due to low or non-patronage by customers.
Operators of rendezvous joints, including pepper soup and drinking centres in Kogi State, have begun to feel the impact of the Ramadan fast due to low or non-patronage by customers.
Many muslims are being compelled to stay indoors, especially during the day due to the weather.
Investigation showed that many joints, especially those located at NATECO, National museum, , NUJ area, Paparazzi, Adankolo and Ganaje junctions, all in the state capital, Lokoja, have, in recent times, been recording low or non-patronage since the commencement last week.
Some of the customers shun the centres, because they were too tired to come out in the evening after breaking the fast.
An operator at NATECO, who gave his name as Pius, said: “Sales have gone down drastically since the fast commenced. Some of our customers claimed that they are too tired to come out later in the evening after breaking the fast and after prayers. They said they preferred staying in doors as they will still wake up early in the morning for breakfast as part of the fast.
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“We depend on some travellers going further North from South and vice versa who do a stop-over in Lokoja late at night, for patronage, to make ends meet. Sales have really gone down here.”
Some operators at the National Museum and NUJ area said they had suspended business till the end of the fasting to avoid making further losses.
Further investigation showed that many Islamic adherents also spend better part of the day at home due to the hot weather.
It was observed that Lokoja weather is still hot, despite that the rain experienced on Tuesday, last week night( the eve of the commencement of the moslem fast).
A resident, Nasiru Yesufu, declared: “We will rather stay at home during the day because of this hot weather. I only go out in the day when it becomes extremely important. I cannot go out under this hot weather while Iam observing the fast.’’
