FCT beer joints operators lament drop in business activities

<p>Another operator of a pepper soup joint and bar, Madam Julie Okoli said business activity had been slow since the removal of fuel subsidy.</p>, <span>Beer parlour (Illustration)</span>, <h2>Some owners and operators of recreational centres and beer joints in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have lamented the decline in business activities and customers’ patronage due to rising cost of living.</h2>, <p>The operators, who said this on Wednesday in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, complained that the situation was triggered by the removal of fuel subsidy.</p>, <p>They added that this had led many patrons to reduce their spending on activities like alcohol consumption and others.</p>, <p>NAN correspondent, who visited some recreation spots in the FCT over the weekend, observed dwindling patronage.</p>, <p>Chibuzo Nzewata, a proprietor of a recreation spot in Garki, who expressed concern over a decline in business activity, attributed low patronage to the removal of fuel subsidy.</p>, <p>Nzewata said that one of the major challenges was inadequate power supply from the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, adding that running on generators from morning till the closing period would not grow the business.</p>, <p>According to him, customers have been visiting but there is a slight decline in profit margin, owing to the rising cost of running the business.</p>, <p>“Before now, we used to have a full arena but it has reduced due to high cost of living. People do not come out to patronise us like before.</p>, <p>“Selling of alcoholic drinks is what gives us more money than other drinks but sales have drastically reduced.</p>, <p>“I know that removal of fuel subsidy has made most of my patrons cut back on spending on activities like alcohol consumption and others.</p>, <p>“I believe that in spite of the economic crunch, Nigerians will soon get over this and come out to have fun and live up to their perception as the happiest set of people on earth,’’ he said.</p>, <p>Another opera