Business
Hotels, Gardens Record Low Patronage
Owners of hotels, gardens and parks have complained of low patronage by members of the public as Ramadan fast continues.
Mr Kola Oladapo, Manager of Step Down Arena, Federal Civil Service Club, our correspondent 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.
Our correspondent 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 said, 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.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.