Coronavirus Economic Crisis, We Can’t Make N500 Daily – Hotel Owners

Hotel owners in New Karu area of Nasarawa state are recounting their predicament as a result of a coronavirus pandemic, MAWA has learned.

A staff of the ROVAC hotel, located at New Karu who spoke to Media Advocacy West Africa Foundation (MAWA Foundation) team that was at the community with support from Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) said the coronavirus outbreak has done lots of damage to their business.

Lamenting the economic predicament the coronavirus has brought to the hotel business, Rita said their business was completely halted by the coronavirus pandemic.

She pointed out that before the pandemic, they were doing well, but in the last three months especially during the lockdown, they hardly make N500 daily.

“Before the coronavirus, we made money from drinks, lodging, and football viewing centre, but all that was stopped by the outbreak of coronavirus and we can’t make N500 a day,” Rita told MAWA.

“It is even worse because, as we are not making any money because of the pandemic, we are still paying bills” she added.

Rita explained that customers no longer come to their hotel to lodge because they are afraid of contracting coronavirus.

She, however, disclosed that before the outbreak of the pandemic, during weekends, there will be no vacant rooms in their hotel because they will be all booked by guests, but at the moment, the case is different and the business has since gone down and is about to be closed down.

Narrating the adverse effect of coronavirus on their business, Rita said she works in the bar and did not make any sale during the lockdown because all her customers could not come and watch football which is a major factor that booms her business.

She, however, told MAWA that things are getting better since the lift on lockdown and the commencement of football matches.

Another resident in the area who did not want his name mentioned, told MAWA, he has been rendered financially impotent by the coronavirus outbreak.

He disclosed that he is a mason and has not done any job for over four months, pointing out that hunger wants to kill him and his family while appealing to the government to help the poor and vulnerable to come out of the difficulties they are facing as a result of the pandemic.

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