Owners of hotels, gardens and parks have complained of low patronage by members of the public as Ramadan fast enters the seventh day, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
Mr Kola Oladapo, Manager of Step Down Arena, Federal Civil Service Club, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview that patronage had gone down.
He attributed the low patronage to the ongoing Ramadan fast, saying business has been at its lowest ebb.
Oladapo said that although the Ramadan fast was observed by Muslims, Christians should also use the period to “seek the face of God for peace in the country”.
“I am appealing to all Nigerians to use this season to seek the face of Allah, so that peace can be restored to our country.''
Mr Anthony Okoli, another hotelier, also traced the low patronage to the Ramadan fast.
Okoli called on Muslim faithful to use this period to pray for the peace of the nation, especially in the Northern part of the country.
“When there is peace, the country will be a better place for us, and it will aid the development of our nation. The garden is more or less empty; the low level of business is affecting the profit that should be made,” he said.
Mrs Hannah Bako, a food seller, said the Ramadan fast had really affected the level of her sales, adding that sales had drastically reduced.
She said that since the Ramadan fast commenced, she only made 40 per cent sales of her normal income from her business.
“Before the fast, I sell more than 50 pieces of fish, but now I hardly sell 30,“ she said.
NAN reports that parks and gardens in the FCT that was usually a beehive of activities especially in Area 1, Area 2, Wuse recorded low patronage since the fasting began on Friday.
Some of the customers, who often patronise hotels, gardens and parks told NAN, that they resolved to stay off pleasure because it was a period to be devoted to God.
Hassan Lukman said that patronising hotels, parks and garden at Ramadan period was not wrong, but added that it was a time that needed to be devoted to God as opposed to the desire of the flesh.