Cyber Café Operators Lament Low Patronage

Some operators of Cyber
Café business in Osogbo have complained of low patronage, saying that the business was dying fast.
The operators told our correspondent that the popularity of smart phones had reduced the number of people patronising their services.
One of the operators, Mr Tunde Iyiola, said many people now preferred to use their smart phones to browse rather than visit a cyber café.
Iyiola said he was hardly making a N1,000  revenue a day, recalling that he had been recording lower patronage since the advent of smart phones.
“Although we enjoy a reasonable level of power supply in this area, many people prefer to browse on their smart phones.
“The only time people come to the café is when they want to scan a document or do a print out.
Another operator, Mr Kazeem Hammed, said he was planning to close his shop for another business due to poor patronage.
Hammed said many people had resorted to the use of smart phones rather than visit a café, adding that the practice was not encouraging the business.
“The few people that come to café once in a while are university candidates who want to print out their admission letters or to scan a document.  This is not too good for the business.’’
Mrs Ibironke Isiaka, another operator, said cyber café was a lucrative business before the advent of smart phones.
“You know technology is improving every day. Most people now use their phones to browse, and indeed, I don’t see any reason why they should patronise the café again.
Some of the customers said they preferred to use their smart phones because they were cheaper and more convenient.
Miss Chisom Maduike, one of the patroniser of the cafe, said she bought only N1,000 data plan for a month to browse.
“If  my smart phones can satisfy my needs, why should I visit a cafe?.
“It saves extra cost and provide me with the comfort and ease to do whatever I want,” Maduike said.