Lagosians spend N36bn on Owambe annually — Fashola

LAGOS—Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos
State, weekend, said more than N36 billion was
spent annually by Lagos residents in
organizing different social events.
This came as the governor said the solution to
the unemployment crisis in the country did not
require any foreign idea, saying "the answer
is a Made in Nigeria strategy."
The governor spoke at the fourth edition of
the Lagos Ignite Enterprise and Employability
project, a joint youth empowerment programme
between the government and the Afterschool
Graduate Development Centre, AGDC.
The event attracted hundreds of youths, ex-
Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian
Communications Commission NCC, Dr. Ernest
Ndukwe, Ali Baba among other dignitaries.
Fashola explained that the figure was collated
after a careful study of social events
especially party life in Lagos.
According to him, "this was the study of night
life carried out by the government in five
local governments including Agege, Mushin,
Ifako-Ijaiye and Ikeja and another local
government. It showed that more than N36
billion was spent on 1555 parties held within
the period.
"We did a study between October and November
last year, we took just five local governments
in Lagos; Agege, Mushin, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikeja
and another one.
"We studied from Thursday, Friday and Saturday
nights, three days every week for four weeks
which was 12 nights.
"In 12 nights, 1555 parties were held in these
local governments. In terms of drinks, food
and all other engagements during such parties,
about N1.2 billion was spent and when we dis-
aggregated them we saw how much went to DJ,
MC, food and drinks, the total picture in the
state now and I don't want to give you a wrong
number but it's something in the region of
about N3 billion monthly on that side of our
life and people are playing and impacting on
that side of our economy.
The governor noted that clothing materials
worn during such parties popularly called
"Aso-ebi" gulped at least N1.2 billion
monthly, saying the market is huge with much
yet to be tapped from it."