Many restaurant operators in Abuja said that they are experiencing low patronage and profit, following prayer and fasting being organised by Christians to usher in the New Year.
A survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja revealed that many churches had declared between 21 and 40 days fasting and praying period for their members.
Some of the popular churches are: the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Living Faith Church and some Charismatic Renewal Groups in the Catholic Church among others.
Ekaette Ubong, the owner of Calabar Kitchen in Wuse II, told NAN that her business had remained dormant since the fasting began by Christians.
Ubong said: “Many of my customers have not been coming to eat since they are fasting and because of this, profit had declined by 50 per cent.
“Though fasting is good for spiritual development, I pray it ends soon so that my business can thrive once more.
“For now, we are just trying to keep busy.”
Another caterer, Alice Adakole, who manages African Pot, Gwarinpa, said it has become a yearly experience for her as a caterer.
Adakole said anytime the fasting commenced, she would reduce the quantity of food she cooks because of low patronage.
According to her, since the beginning of this year, I have not experienced any significant sales, but by the end of the fasting, hopefully, business will pick up again.
Adakole told NAN that she cooked more at evening time to meet the demand of customers, who were breaking their fast, adding that the evening sales could not be compared to full day sales.
She explained that some people started breaking their fasting as from 3pm and 6pm, depending on their strength.
Similarly, Agwu Chukwudi, the owner of Hunger Solution in Karu, decried low patronage, saying: “The fasting has led to drastic reduction in profit as there are no customers.
“People have not been coming to eat since some churches declared their prayer and fasting.
“I am even sleeping in my shop now.
“Also, the price of goods in the market has doubled this January.
“A measure of beans is now N500 as against N350 in the previous months.”
A measure of rice, which was being sold for N500 previously, has now jumped to N600 this January.
Chukwudi called on government to review its economic policies to alleviate the plight of small-scale businesses.
She said, though, the government claimed that the country was out of recession but Nigerians were not feeling the impact as “some Nigerians are dying of hunger particularly in the rural areas”.