By Kelechi Esogwa-Amadi
The new curfew time of 7p.m. to 6a.m. in Rivers State is making business owners in Port Harcourt very uncomfortable and angry.
These business owners, who run various businesses in the city said that the curfew will affect them most.
Speaking to TPCN on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, some of them complained that since the new curfew time was announced by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, two days ago, traders had been very uncomfortable and jittery because of the adverse effects it will have on their businesses.
A food stuff seller in Mile 1, Diobu, Madam Julie, said she had not been selling well since the curfew started two weeks ago.
“That time Governor started this curfew by 10 o’clock in the night, I was selling but not like before. I used to sell more in the afternoon till around 6p.m because that’s when most of my customers come, those of them that sell canteen and mama put. But if they don’t sell well in the night, they will not buy much from me.
“One of them used to buy two paints of rice and one paint of beans every day but as she’s not selling well in the night because of the curfew, she now buys only one paint of rice and half paint of beans. Now that the curfew will start by 7 o’clock today, I don’t know if they will even buy up to one paint,” she lamented.
A hair dresser at UST backgate, similarly, complained that the 7p.m. -6a.m. curfew will affect her work.
She told TPCN: “That evening time is when we get plenty customers because by then students have finished their lectures. Those who didn’t have chance to do their hair will now come. So, am just begging them to shift the curfew back to 10 p.m.”
A canteen owner at NTA Road, who spoke to TPCN around 6:30p.m. yesterday, expressed dismay that rather than settle down and eat evening food, most of her customers were rather busy rushing to get to their houses before 7p.m.
“If you look across to that bus stop there, you will see many people stranded there, waiting for taxi and bus. And it is from that 7p.m. that we sell well because that time people want to eat evening food before going home. But now they’re afraid of staying.
“One customer did not even finish his food because he saw one bus that was empty. So he quickly washed his hand and rushed to the bus so that other people will not fill it before he will get there. See what the curfew is causing. Now we’re planning to close but before we can stay till 9:30.”
Last night, TPCN observed that business owners fully complied with the curfew order by shutting down by 7p.m. Businesses such as supermarkets, barbing salons, betting shops, fast food shops, canteens, drinking bars, foodstuff sellers, POS services, hair dressing salons, pharmacies, cold rooms, tailoring and fashion design shops, laundry shops, phone accessories retailers and suya joints, all closed down in strict adherence to the curfew time.
Because of the rush to beat the time and escape harassment by security agents ordered by Governor Nyesom Wike to enforce the curfew, people were seen rushing to their various destinations.
The bus stops were also over-crowded as there were scarcity of buses and taxis. The few available seized the opportunity to increase their charges.
For instance, passengers were forced to pay N200 from Location Junction, Mgbuoba, to Mile 3.
Also because of the rush to beat the 7p.m curfew time yesterday, a multiple accident nearly occurred at Location Junction as there was no police officer to control the traffic.
