Night Clubs Lose Patronage In Abuja

While other business owners are counting their gains as result of increased patronage engendered by the Yuletide, the situation is different for operators in the entertainment sector in Abuja.

Dancing time at one of the night clubs in Abuja.

As investigations by P.M.Entertainment revealed, club owners in Abuja are counting their losses as, rather than increased patronage, the festive season brought about by a lull in their business.

This, it was gathered, may not be unrelated to the usual exodus from the capital city during Yuletide.

The downturn in night club business, P.M.Entertainment gathered, is also affecting sex workers, who now do everything possible to woo the few men who still patronise the clubs.

Checks at the major clubs in Abuja on Tuesday night revealed that most of the clubs, which operate round the clock, have been deserted by patrons, most of who may have travelled outside the city.

It was also gathered that the lull in club business became serious immediately after the Christmas celebrations, while it was observed that there was nobody on the dance floor of Clems Night Club along Adetokunbo Ademola Street in Wuse II, Abuja. In fact, those familiar with the club will hardly believe that it is still operating.

P.M.Entertainment also observed the same situation at Rita Lori, one of the oldest clubs in the city, situated at Garki 2 area.

Looking around the premises, it was observed that the usually very busy club seemed deserted as there were just about 10 men and 25 women in the vast premises, while the night club was locked.

The situation was not different at Ibiza, another popular club located at Gimbiya Street, Area 11, Abuja. Indeed, the entire Gimbiya Street can be described as one of the notorious areas patronised by sex workers in search of men in the capital city, next only to Wuse Zone 4.

The open air drinking joint which used to be very busy with customers, who at times struggle to get seats was virtually deserted as there were not up to 20 people there on Tuesday night.

Getting into the club, there were only 16 patrons, seven male and ten young fine looking ladies there as at 1.30 a.m.

Three of the girls were observed trying to impress one guy as they danced around him to get his attention and probably for him to take them home for the night.

—Femi Ipaye/Abuja