Lagosians spend N36billion yearly on Owambe – Fashola

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola
at the weekend, said residents of the state
spend not less than 36 billion yearly in
organizing different social events, famously
known as Owambe.
According to him, the figure was collated
after a careful study of social events,
especially party-life in Lagos.
Fashola gave this figure while speaking 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 governor, during the event, which
attracted hundreds of youth, ex-Chief
Executive Officer of the Nigerian
Communications Commission, NCC, Dr.
Ernest Ndukwe, Ali Baba among other
dignitaries, also said solution to the
unemployment crisis in the country does
not require any foreign idea, saying “the
answer is a Made in Nigeria strategy.”
According to him, “this was the
study of nightlife carried out by the
government in five local governments,
including Agege, Mushin, Ifako-Ijaiye, 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.”