Street trade booms as carnival Calabar comes to climax
(Nigeria) The residents of Calabar have cashed in on the
final day of Carnival Calabar to make brisk businesses.
A survey in parts of the city shows that residents have
converted all available spaces along the Carnival routes to business arena
displaying various items.
Canopies and chairs were also set up by individuals and
groups on the streets along the carnival routes where tourists and fun seekers
pay a token to relax and watch the events.
Mr Sunday Akpan said that he set up his business as early as
7 a.m., adding that people had been patronising him since then not minding that
it was still early in the day.
Sunday, who came all the way from Akwa Ibom, said he had
been participating in the Carnival Calabar since 2013, adding that he had made
some good sales.
``I cannot tell you how much I have made this morning but I
have made good money, especially from dry gin and cigarettes,’’ he said.
A food vendor, Mrs Uloma Ezike, said that she came out as
early as 6 a.m., with her food and had been selling since then.
``I am about to go and cook another one because this one has
almost finished. Normally on a carnival day, I cook three or four times because
the food must be hot all the time. I have so many customers who used to come to
eat. Some buy take-away and others eat here,’’ she said.
A tourist from Edo, Mr Nelson Ighodalo, said that he was
enjoying everything about the carnival.
``Honestly I am enjoying the whole thing, especially looking
at the setting; people moving around enjoying themselves; relaxing, dining and
wining in the open this early.
``In fact everything here is fun,’’ he said.
There were presence of security personnel and other
para-military at strategic locations along the routes getting ready to maintain
law and order as well as ensure orderliness by the crowd.
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