By Vincent Ujumadu
Time was when Awka and Onitsha, the two main cities in Anambra State were famous for night life. In those good old days, workers and traders looked forward to the end of the day’s business when they would troupe into night clubs and drinking places to show off and spend their money.

But all that had changed, no thanks to the emergence of kidnappers who have succeeded in sending people to their homes early after work.

These days, it is difficult to find people in night clubs and beer palours beyond 8.00pm as many kidnapping and robbery incidents that had taken place in the state happened in such places. Once it is 8.00pm, most streets are deserted and vehicles passing the state to other states from such places as Lagos or Abuja would wonder what was amiss.

Indeed, the problem of night life dates back to the era of the political struggle among members of the
then ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from 1999 when political thuggery was the in thing and those who held opposing political views became threats. The issue culminated with the setting up of the dreaded Bakassi Boys outfit by the Chinwoke Mbadinuju administration which lasted from 1999 -2003.  The group operated in such a way that people found to be enjoying themselves in night clubs and hotels at night were dubbed armed robbers or people planning evil. That was what killed night life in the state and with time, the existing night clubs closed shops.
Though Awka, the state capital, has many hotels, they are hardly patronized at night by visitors because of the fear of armed robbery. The nearby Onitsha said to be one of Nigeria’s most thriving commercial cities is even worse. For instance, the fear of the notorious Upper Iweka road in the town is the beginning of wisdom for visitors to the state. Even some indigenes of the state returning from other states would say that if they could not pass Onitsha by 7.00pm, they would rather stay in a neighbouring state and return the following day.

An owner of a popular hotel in Awka, Chief Stephen Nweke said the situation is regrettable, adding that insecurity was the reason behind the poor night life in the state.
He said: “The night clubs and hotels used to offer some economic strength to Awka. Time was when night crawlers from neighbouring towns wanting some good life, dance, drink, music and women flooded Awka and stay awake till day break.

Today, the situation is different and this is having a great set back on those of us in the hospitality industry.”
Nweke recalled that in the past, almost all major hotels in the town had their own clubs, but all that had become history. According to him, in those days, the night clubs were patronized mostly by politicians, traders and students and there were few places to watch strip girls for a fee.

He said that the problem is not even money as many people have money to spend, but do not have places to spend it.

“The economy is bad but not so bad for one to enjoy himself. The main problem is insecurity and this is where I want government to do something. A situation whereby our people go to other cities to enjoy night life because it is lacking here is not good enough,” he said.

An Onitsha –based businessman, Chief Paulinus Okafor said it was due to lack of night life in Onitsha that made him to relocate to Asaba where he explained, he has built his own house and could crawl as much as he likes without fear.