NEWS: Abuja celebrates Xmas in grand style despite fuel scarcity

In spite of the problem of lingering petrol scarcity, Abuja residents thronged various recreation centres on Monday to celebrate Christmas.

Fun seekers in large number troupe to some parks in Abuja, especially Magicland, Monoliza Amusement Park, Wonder land and Millennium Park.

Many fun seekers expressed appreciation to God for making them to celebration another Christmas which marks the birth of Jesus Christ.

They said they did not allow the fuel scarcity to affect their joy during the Christmas.

At the popular Magic land located near the city gate, fun seekers in their hundreds trouped to catch fun.

A Sterling Bank van with registration, Lagos, MUS 723 XR, equipped with mobile Auto Teller Machine (ATM), was stationed in the park to ensure that fun seekers do not run out of cash.

Mr Johnbull Emeka, a business man at Wuse Market, said he was in the park to give his family a good time.

“There is no better time of having fun with the family than this time. It is a public holiday and you can see a lot of families are here to catch their fun.

“Even though fuel is scarce, fun is not scarce here; parents, children and even ground parents are all here catching their fun.

“You know transport fare has gone very high, so instead of spending so much on transport to go home for Christmas, it is better to come and enjoy in the park and be happy.

“We thank God for being alive to celebrate Christmas and we pray he keeps us alive to celebrate the next one. Nigeria will get better with time,” Emeka said.

Mr Paul Okoh, appreciates fun seekers whom he described as “wonderful people”.

“They know that ‘Magicland’ is the best place for kids and adult to catch their fun. We thank them.

“Our equipment never fail and our security is always alert to any eventuality. We will always try to make Abuja people happy and satisfy as they come to have fun in the park,” Okoh said.

At Monoliza Amusement Park located at Garki, Area 11, a fun seeker, Mrs Agatha Anchor, who is a civil servant, said it was not easy but the reason for the season is worthy of the celebration.

Anchor, who had a bumper car and horse ride with her two children said they were in the park to catch their fun for the Christmas.

“Whether fuel or no fuel, life goes on. The kids need to have fun, that is why we are here. We cannot dull ourselves in the house because fuel scarcity.

“It is a season to celebrate. Though it is not easy because things are hard now, but then the kids have to catch their fun.

“It is our duty as parents to bring them to the parks for the Christmas to make them happy,” Anchor said.

Another fun seeker, Mr. Abdullahi Usman, said he was in the park with his wife and two children to celebrate the Christmas.

“Even though I am a Muslim, we are all one Nigeria. It is a public holiday, I cannot keep my children at home. We have to join the Christians in the parks to also enjoy ourselves.

“Even with the fuel scarcity, you can see a lot of people in the park catching their fun. We thank God for everything,” Usman said.

Mr Kingsley Joseph, who sells ‘Cutting Candy’, said patronage is encouraging adding that “I foresee high sales.”

Malam Abdullahi Garba also known as ‘Baba Dogo’ Manager of the park expressed satisfaction with the patronage of fun seekers.

Garba said: “God is wonderful; I never thought large number of people will come out today because of the fuel scarcity, but you can see for yourself, crowd are trouping in.

“If you pray and leave the rest to God, He will surprise you. Nigeria is blessed. However, we need to pray for our leaders and also contribute our individual quota to nation building.

“Let us also pray to God to soften the heart of our leaders that are heartless, who do not see the sufferings of the people.

“I want to thank the media and the security agencies that are helping in enlightening and protecting the people,” Garba said.

The situation was not different at the Millennium Park, located near Transcorp Hilton in Maitama where fun seekers in their hundreds troupe in have fun.

NAN observed that due to the large crowd, fun seekers have to queue to enter the park with security personnel’s conducting searching at the gate.

Also, the parking lot of the park was filled. Fun seekers later used the unity fountain area to park their cars.

Mrs Barbra Timothy, a petty trader from Garki II in company of her four children brought food, drinks and a music player to catch their fun.

“My brother, today is Christmas, we need to thank God of the life and also enjoy the life in the park.

“As you can see, we are ready to catch our fun. Even though fuel is scarce, it did not show in the park because you can see people in their hundreds coming to have fun here.

“However, we must not also forget the reason for the season. It is all about love, but you need to love yourself to know how to love others.

“We are here. Let the fun begin. Thank you my brother,” Timothy said.
Malam Bala Abubakar, a horse-ride service provider, said he provided a horse ride for two hundred naira and to mount the horse and take photographs, he charged one hundred naira.

According to him, there is high patronage by fun seekers in the park.

“I am very busy with fun seekers wanting to ride while other want to mount and take pictures. Business is going in fine and I thank Allah for this.” (Culled from NAN)