Every year, as Christmas and New Year draw near, Port Harcourt and parts of Rivers State undergo a familiar transformation. The usually busy streets, lively markets, and traffic-filled roads begin to thin out, revealing a calmer, almost lonely atmosphere. This seasonal shift is closely tied to the state’s unique population structure.
Rivers State, and Port Harcourt in particular, is home to a large population of non-indigenes. Drawn by economic opportunities, education, and employment, many residents originally come from other parts of Nigeria. While this diversity adds to the city’s cultural and economic strength, it also becomes very noticeable during festive periods.
As the year comes to an end, many residents travel back to their hometowns to celebrate Christmas and New Year with family and loved ones. These journeys significantly reduce movement within the state. Businesses slow down, commercial activities decline, and entire neighborhoods that are usually buzzing with life become unusually quiet.
For traders, transport operators, and service providers, the festive season often means fewer customers and reduced income. Offices operate skeletal services or close entirely, and schools go on break, further contributing to the lull. The city, for a brief period, feels paused.
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However, this calm is temporary. The return journey is already anticipated. Many residents are expected to come back between January 5 and January 17, a timeframe that coincides with the resumption of schools, offices, and other institutions. As people return, the familiar hustle gradually resumes—traffic builds up, businesses reopen fully, and the city regains its energy.
This annual cycle highlights both the transient nature of Port Harcourt’s population and the deep-rooted importance of family and tradition in Nigerian society. While the festive season brings a quiet pause to the city, it also marks a moment of renewal, as life steadily flows back into Rivers State with the start of a new year.
