By Our Reporter

Lagos—Some tourist parks and beaches in Lagos yesterday recorded a large turnout of fun seekers marking the Boxing Day celebration.

Federal Government had declared yesterday and  today as Public holidays.

Some of the fun seekers, who spoke in separate interviews in Lagos, said they had always looked forward to public holidays like this for them to catch fun.

A visit to some parks and beaches around the city, revealed that they were filled with fun seekers.

A fun seeker, Miss Tolefe Okonji, said she took advantage of the holiday to have a good time at the Freedom Park due to her usual busy schedule.

“Freedom park is an environment I have been looking forward to visit and I am happy that I finally made it to the place due to the public holiday.

“I rarely have time to have fun due to the nature of my job, so I use holidays like this to relax and catch fun,” she said.

Okonji expressed satisfaction with this year’s long holiday, adding that it gave her the opportunity to hang out with friends and family.

A banker, Miss Jenifer Nwosu, said that due to her nature of work, she took  advantage of the day to have fun. “Due to the nature of my job, I always use public holidays to come to places I have not been to. So, coming down to Amusement park is more of an adventure to me.

“I am having fun here and I am very impressed with what I am seeing, “ Nwosu said.

A soft drink seller in Oshodi Heritage Park, Mrs Tinuade Adepegba, expressed optimism that the business would be profitable this time.

“So far, I have not sold much but am very sure that I will still make money because fun seekers are still coming and I am going to be here all day,“ Adepegba said.

She said that she made reasonable profit on Christmas Day, adding that she was hopeful she would make the same today.

Mr Lanre Aladesanmi, who came to Elegushi Beach with his wife, said he always looked forward to public holidays in order to visit beaches to catch some fun. “I always look forward to days like this because I use them to have memorable outing with my loved ones. “I love to visit beaches, most especially Elegushi beach, because of the serene environment.

“It is a well organised beach with lovely facilities and fun activities surrounding it, “ Aladesanmi said.

A seller of roasted meat (suya) at Arhakab Beach, Malam Ibrahim Danyaro, said he had made up to N15,000 and still expecting to make more sales before the close of the day.

“With a large turnout of people here, I still expect to make more sales because there is still time. “The influx of people here today is good for my business, “ Danyaro said.

 Beer parlour operators decry poor patronage

Meantime a trip to some beer parlours in Lagos,  revealed that their operators recorded poor patronage this Yuletide. It was observed that the number of people, who usually relaxed and socialise at some bars and joints in the evenings, reduced drastically at Yuletide.

Mrs Chioma Nwanze, a beer parlour owner, lamented the drop in the number of customers this festive period due to the parlous state of the economy.

“Many of us are no longer making it because there is no money in town, yet the prices of beer from brewers keep on increasing.

“Soon, many of us may have to return to our villages because of poor records of sales in Lagos.”