How #WinterinOAU Impacted Trade on OAU Campus.
Mayowa Adeniji
The Obafemi Awolowo University Community has been under tension in recent weeks due to a scary letter that vowed to attack the university community on June 1.
Recall that following the apprehension of some cultists at the popular amphitheater during a musical show on campus, a letter whose source is hitherto, unverified circulated online. Despite assurances of safety and security by the university management for the university community, this past weekend witnessed the departure of a significant number of students from campus - with many fleeing to their homes and some seeking refuge in town.
The departure has been linked to the public holiday that has been declared on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, investigation has proven that the threat is significantly responsible for the phenomenon.
OAU Kilonshele reported yesterday, the almost deserted state of the University. It is reasonable to expect that the movement of students from campus will either positively or negatively affect some sectors of the University. Through series of interviews with campus traders, this report took a look at the effect of the threat on trade on campus. (Please note that some of the names of the interviewees have been changed for the purpose of confidentiality).
Virtually, all of the interviewees were of the opinion that the cult threat had significant impact on trading activities on campus - however, in a detrimental manner.
In our conversation with Mrs. Biodun, a food seller, she established that sales reduced significantly due to the scary information. According to her, "Everybody left hastily yesterday and on Friday. Some traders even didn't come to shop yesterday having observed the situation on Friday."
Mrs. Biodun's assertion was also shared by another food seller, Mrs. Bamidele. "It affected sales. The market was unprecedentedly scanty. In fact many traders left before 8 PM," Mrs. Bamidele said.
Mr. Omotosho also explained how the threat affected trade on campus. "It affected the sales seriously. Due to the fear, people were not plenty on campus that day. Some students couldn't stay. Though the validity of the threat is unknown, many couldn't risk it so they left for town or home for the mean time. So it really affected, especially those that sell edibles, food stuffs, etc."
"We also had to close early, people felt an attack might not be made in the day but during the night."
In the same manner, Mr. Adeyemi, who deals in sales of turkeys and chickens noted that the phenomenon affected patronage seriously.
"You know any relevant business depends on population, the reason why this shop is situated here is because of the campus population. And so if the population of the university reduces, it will automatically reduce consumption rated . Already, the fact that the population of students residing on campus has reduced has invariably affected patronage. Sometimes, we would be here and won't make any sales. So if there are threats and some people are scared to come to market, It will invariably reduce sale, Mr. Adeyemi narrated.
"In the past few days, sales have reduced. People don't move freely. Under normal circumstances most shops usually close around 8 - 9 PM but recently, the whole place will become scanty by 6pm. No one will want to stay late outside and endanger their community.
Subsequently, Mr. Omotosho, a fashion designer, agreed that the tension has affected patronage. "It affected sales. The number of customers who came yesterday reduced significantly. Some of the students, driven by the notion that school hostels might be targeted reacted to the information by going home. Some will also utilise the opportunity to stay further at home since there is holiday on Tuesday and Wednesday."
The same opinion was shared by another fashion designer, Mr. James. "Some people were really scared. Many believe it will happen. Some waited till afternoon before opening shop."
Similar opinion was also shared by many food stuff traders. Meanwhile, no attack was witnessed on the 1st of June that was slated for the revenge mission.
The Obafemi Awolowo University Community has been under tension in recent weeks due to a scary letter that vowed to attack the university community on June 1.
Recall that following the apprehension of some cultists at the popular amphitheater during a musical show on campus, a letter whose source is hitherto, unverified circulated online. Despite assurances of safety and security by the university management for the university community, this past weekend witnessed the departure of a significant number of students from campus - with many fleeing to their homes and some seeking refuge in town.
The departure has been linked to the public holiday that has been declared on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, investigation has proven that the threat is significantly responsible for the phenomenon.
OAU Kilonshele reported yesterday, the almost deserted state of the University. It is reasonable to expect that the movement of students from campus will either positively or negatively affect some sectors of the University. Through series of interviews with campus traders, this report took a look at the effect of the threat on trade on campus. (Please note that some of the names of the interviewees have been changed for the purpose of confidentiality).
Virtually, all of the interviewees were of the opinion that the cult threat had significant impact on trading activities on campus - however, in a detrimental manner.
In our conversation with Mrs. Biodun, a food seller, she established that sales reduced significantly due to the scary information. According to her, "Everybody left hastily yesterday and on Friday. Some traders even didn't come to shop yesterday having observed the situation on Friday."
Mrs. Biodun's assertion was also shared by another food seller, Mrs. Bamidele. "It affected sales. The market was unprecedentedly scanty. In fact many traders left before 8 PM," Mrs. Bamidele said.
Mr. Omotosho also explained how the threat affected trade on campus. "It affected the sales seriously. Due to the fear, people were not plenty on campus that day. Some students couldn't stay. Though the validity of the threat is unknown, many couldn't risk it so they left for town or home for the mean time. So it really affected, especially those that sell edibles, food stuffs, etc."
"We also had to close early, people felt an attack might not be made in the day but during the night."
In the same manner, Mr. Adeyemi, who deals in sales of turkeys and chickens noted that the phenomenon affected patronage seriously.
"You know any relevant business depends on population, the reason why this shop is situated here is because of the campus population. And so if the population of the university reduces, it will automatically reduce consumption rated . Already, the fact that the population of students residing on campus has reduced has invariably affected patronage. Sometimes, we would be here and won't make any sales. So if there are threats and some people are scared to come to market, It will invariably reduce sale, Mr. Adeyemi narrated.
"In the past few days, sales have reduced. People don't move freely. Under normal circumstances most shops usually close around 8 - 9 PM but recently, the whole place will become scanty by 6pm. No one will want to stay late outside and endanger their community.
Subsequently, Mr. Omotosho, a fashion designer, agreed that the tension has affected patronage. "It affected sales. The number of customers who came yesterday reduced significantly. Some of the students, driven by the notion that school hostels might be targeted reacted to the information by going home. Some will also utilise the opportunity to stay further at home since there is holiday on Tuesday and Wednesday."
The same opinion was shared by another fashion designer, Mr. James. "Some people were really scared. Many believe it will happen. Some waited till afternoon before opening shop."
Similar opinion was also shared by many food stuff traders. Meanwhile, no attack was witnessed on the 1st of June that was slated for the revenge mission.
Comments
Post a Comment