Fun seekers, on Monday, trooped out en masse to celebrate the New Year in different fun spots across Ibadan metropolis.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that most of the fun spots in the city, including the popular ShopRite on Ring-Road area witnessed large turn-out of both the children and the adults.
A parent, Mrs BankeAdedara, said she decided to bring her children to ShopRite to celebrate the new year and catch fun.
Adedara said that her children were very happy to be there to mix with other family members and friends to ride bouncing castle and play with other fun items.
She thanked her husband for making out time to take the children out so that they would not be feeling bored at home.
Another fun seeker, Mr Samuel Adigun, expressed gratitude to God for making him and his family see the beginning of the new year.
Adigun, however, urged the Federal Government to do everything possible to check the increasing rate of inflation in the country, particularly the prices of food items.
He expressed happiness that some fun spots across the city were still filled with children and other fun seekers to savour the season, notwithstanding the present economic downturn in the country.
Adigun, however, noted that the patronage would have been higher if the nation’s economy had been in better shape, with people having much to throw around.
“Some families have opted to stay at home to observe the celebration due to lack of money,” he said.
Another fun seeker, Mrs Mary Abolade, said bringing her children from Amuloko area to the city centre to catch fun made them feel happy and excited.
An artist, Mr Sope Williams, who was engaging in making drawings on children’s faces, lamented low patronage this year compared with previous years.
A NAN correspondent, who went round Ibadan metropolis, observed that most of the roads were almost empty, with traffic completely absent.
Some commercial drivers and tricycle riders, who spoke with NAN, said that people might have decided to rest, preparatory to commencement of work on Tuesday.
They said that they had been busy looking for passengers who were not available.
NAN also reports that many shops and commercial centres across the city were under lock and key due to the new year celebrations, while popular markets like Ogunpa, Dugbe and Apata witnessed few traders and buyers. (NAN