Return of Night Life in Coal City
It is no longer news that Nigerian economy is in recession. The economic consequences of a nation in such crisis is the sharp drop in night life activities —clubbing, hanging out and generally fun-related activities people normally engage in, especially during the weekends. But it is a different case in Enugu, the Coal City.
Recently, I was opportune to spend some days in city when I travelled to the South-east to join family and friends of Lady Nwanneka Ekweremadu, wife of Deputy Senate President, to celebrate her golden birthday. One of the new discoveries I made as regards the developments in the city during the course of my visit, was a gradual return of night life in the ancient capital of old Eastern region. As a result of improved security in the state, people are disposed to spending some hours into the night, hanging out with friends, colleagues and business partners without fear of men of the underworld.
The proactive stoppage of robbery attack at Independence Layout of recent also boosted confidence of fun seekers and tourists in the state. The swift responses of security agencies to threats of insecurity in the urban areas can be scored above average, not minding the limitation of security infrastructure in the state. Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has done a lot in this direction to equip security outfits in the state. In fact, it is on record that no governor in the South-east geopolitical zone has invested in security like him the result of which can be seen in the increase in night life activities in the state.
Apart from the diminishing threat hitherto posed by Fulani herdsmen in the state—which is being managed by the governor in conjunction with security apparatus, other security threats in the state like armed robbery, assassination, kidnapping, car snatching, nefarious activities of cult groups, have been reasonably brought under control. Residents and visitors of Coal City feel safer and relaxed now than before. This has culminated in more night life activities which are bringing the city back to its lost glories.
From the corners of Achara layout to the serene environs of independence layout, night life is gradually returning to what it used to be in the past. Enugu State is becoming a centre of attraction to tourists. Little wonder United States Department of Security recently rated the state as one of the safest states in the country. Not too long ago, the World Bank evaluated Enugu as one of the states with ease of doing business. And one of the parameters used by the international organisation in arriving at its rating is the security of lives and property in the state. No genuine investor will take his money to a state afflicted by political, social, economic and security problems.
There is no doubt that the return of night life in Enugu will encourage increased investments in recreational industry which will also impact internally generated revenue of the state at the same time enhance state government quest to diversify the economy from being dependent on monthly allocation from Abuja.
On the area of job creation, resuscitation of night life in the Coal City is already assisting the government in creation of thousands of direct jobs for unemployed youths. When employment opportunities are provided for the youths, automatically the rate of crime will go down and government will channel security votes into reinvigorating moribund industries and provision of critical infrastructure in the state. Nwobodo Chidiebere, Enugu