NAN-ELS-1
Events
BY Nkiru Ifeajuna
Lagos, Dec. 5, 2016 (NAN) As the Yuletide approaches amid the current economic recession, some operators of event centres in Lagos have lamented the low level by clients, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The managers of the facilities told NAN that they had never had it this tough in all the years that they have been in the business.
Mr Olawale Azeez, the Facility Manager, Eagles Club, Surulere, Lagos, said that in the past the centre was usually booked full for one event or the other.
“This year, we have not had much patronage because of the economic situation in the country.
“We normally have receptions or activities on week days and Christmas period but none this time around.
“The patronage for wedding receptions are so scanty, we have not seen much of it this season,’’ he said.
At the Eko Club Events Centre, Mrs Kemi Oyebode, the Administrative Secretary, told NAN that the economic recession had taken its toll on activities at the facility.
Oyebode added that it was usually a busy period for them when the going was good.
“The patronage is quite low, about two years ago, we were always on our toes; we were fully booked and trying to squeeze in events but not anymore.
“Sometimes people engage our in-house caterers and we also provide drinks.
“But if the people doing the event don’t want in-house caterers, they can bring in theirs.
“Many people are not renting halls as frequently as they did because of the situation in the country,’’ she said.
Rufus Adewoye, the Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) hall, said the recession might force some of the events centres to fold up because of low patronage.
“There was a time our facility was usually filled up with people, most times the invitation reads strictly by invitation and some people are prevented from entering the hall.
“But today we have a terrible situation in the country and it is affecting our business, but in spite of the low patronage we still try to stay afloat,’’ he said.
NAN reports that events centres in Lagos are in different shapes and sizes, and the location of the facility usually determines what the clients could pay to use the place.
Some of the facilities are usually located in high-brow neighbourhoods which are the usual destination of choice for affluent members of the society. (NAN)
NCI/ERO/PDE
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(Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Peter Ejiofor)