Amusement
By Mariam Akande and Yunus Yusuf
Lagos, Dec. 26, 2018 (NAN) Mr Mohammed Zubair, the Manager, Apapa Amusement Park, on Wednesday said that the ongoing road repairs within the Apapa axis of Lagos State had been affecting business activities in the area in the last one year.
Zubair told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that this had made it difficult for visitors within and outside Apapa to patronise the park on weekends and during public holidays .
He said that the development had also affected visitors and revellers that would have visited the park.
He said that the Apapa Amusement Park used to be the number one leisure spot where families usually trooped to for healthy family entertainment in past years.
According to him, ”We appeal to the state government to expedite actions on the ongoing rehabilitation of Apapa road to save our business from total collapse.
“We are suffering from the deplorable state of the roads and power outage. We hope that in the coming years, the business will have gained ground.
“Operating Amusement Park business in Nigeria has lots of challenges because most Nigerians do not create time for leisure and most time we are perpetually on generators ,” he said.
Similarly, Mr Ejirinde David, the Amusement Park’s accountant, said the park recorded over 300 fun seekers during festive period.
He said that the level of patronage would have been more if the roads were good.
David who refused to disclose how much the park realised in the previous festive seasons, however, said the park had reduced sales in 2018 compared to the previous years.
According to him, we have adequate security, insurance and well organised structures that care for children whenever they are in the premises.
“We hope with time, things will get better. The facilities at the park today include: Rides, Adult Games, Junior Games, Children Games, Kart Racing, Gardens.
“Others are : Restaurant and Coffee Shop, Snack Bars, Passages, Fountain and Seating Area, First Aid, Parking Area and Conveniences.
” Amusement Park offers Lagosians an opportunity for the regeneration of family values and bonding,
”Provision of a leisure spot with facilities as available here goes a long way in stimulating the mind through recreation and entertainment,” he said.
He said that over time, Apapa which is home to Nigeria’s busiest seaports, had garnered notoriety for its unending traffic gridlock.
He said that this had made it a destination easily avoided by people who had no compelling need to be there.
Emmanuel Praye, a film maker, said he had been living in Apapa for several years, but he was visiting the park for the first time.
He commended the facilities there but advised the operators to engage more in adverts to attract more patronage.
Moses Ayoolakin, who usually patronises the park, expressed satisfaction and implored more people to come with their families to enjoy the facility .
OMA/YO/FF/PAD
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Edited by Fela Fashoro/ Peter Dada