By Divine Sam
Despite the ongoing economic challenges, many residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have found a way to celebrate the Christmas season by flocking to parks, gardens, and recreational centres. On Boxing Day, large numbers of fun seekers gathered at popular spots such as Millennium Park, Central Park, Magic Land Amusement Park, and the Abuja Christmas Village in Life Camp, enjoying the festive atmosphere with their families.
For many, the economic downturn has not dampened their holiday spirit. Even in the face of rising costs and financial strain, they see the holiday as a time to relax and bond with loved ones after a year of hard work.
Mr. Monday Adamu, a visitor to Millennium Park, shared his thoughts, saying, “The country is hard, but I just have to do this for my family because the holiday is a very long one and my children are at home. Staying at home the entire time would be boring.” He mentioned that while it was more expensive to travel to the park this year, including spending N20,000 on fuel, he still wanted to keep his family traditions alive. “We usually come here during Easter or Christmas, but we couldn’t make it during Easter, so I promised my family that I would bring them this season.”
Similarly, Mr. Ekene, another fun seeker, explained why he chose to stay in the FCT instead of traveling to his village. “How can you pay N25,000 to N30,000 just for transport to the East, then add the cost of food and clothes for four people? Many of us decided not to go to the village this time around and brought our families here because Christmas can be celebrated anywhere.”
At Central Park, Mrs. Cecilia Phillips emphasized the importance of making sacrifices to ensure her children had a memorable holiday experience. “We know things are hard, but Christmas comes once a year, and you just have to do this because the children are on a long vacation too,” she said. “If you only focus on money, you’ll end up working all the time and never make yourself happy. We decided to go out, and I think this place is not bad at all.”
The festive gatherings have also created business opportunities for vendors and photographers. At the Abuja Christmas Village, one vendor remarked that business was unusually high on this Boxing Day compared to previous years, noting that the large influx of visitors has contributed to an uptick in sales.
While many attendees acknowledged the difficult economic climate, they remained hopeful for the future, with many hoping that 2025 will bring brighter days for Nigerians. Despite the hardships, the spirit of Christmas brought many together to celebrate, relax, and enjoy the season with loved ones.
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