Onitsha Defy Recession : Christmas Preparations In High Gear

WRITTEN BY BLESSING IFEDIBU

Economic recession in the country notwithstanding, the commercial city of Onitsha is now bubbling with lots of activities in preparation for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Blessing Ifedibu who went round the city reports that people including sellers and buyers were busy at different areas.

Gaining entrance into the commercial city of Onitsha at this period of year is usually a difficult task as lots of vehicles conveying buyers and sellers struggle to catch up with time.

This no doubt, has caused increase in transport fares as a ride in tricycles popularly known as keke from Awka Road to Onitsha Main Market now costs one hundred naira as against the usual fare of fifty naira.

Motorcycle operators called Okada riders have also increased their fares with more than hundred percent.
In like manner, Christmas period is usually a period when everybody especially women want to look their best and a visit to beauty shops reveals that large number of ladies and female children all queued up waiting for their turn to have their hair done by the hairstylists..

A hair plaiter simply called Ngozi said, the hard times notwithstanding, her customers are still patronizing her in large numbers.

Little miss Nwankwo who has just finished plaiting her hair, said she preferred Akanchawa because of its simple nature and what it connotes.

Tailors and other fashion designers are not left out of the Christmas pre preparation as they were seen making frantic efforts to meet the demands of their customers.
The chief seamstress in one fashion and designing shop, Mrs Esther Chidokwa, said she received much cloth materials from her customers, listing some major styles in this year’s celebrations to include French lace and Abada combine.

Also at another fashion designers shop, the owner Mrs. Oby Eze, displayed many styles for the season such traditional and English wears.

She however regretted that some of her customers were yet to come to collect their cloths.

Commenting on the celebration regarding buying and selling, the secretary Amalgamated Market Traders Association of Anambra State, Honorable Chuma Eruchalu, called for caution as lots of bills will be waiting to be settled in January.

He praised the security outfit of the State government, saying that business now thrive due to the peaceful atmosphere in the state.