University ghost town

Musiliu Ibrahim was drenched with his sweat by the time he got to his shop. Since business has been bad lately, he has deemed it wise to cut costs in any way he can.

Ordinarily, paying N30 bus fare from his house at Iba to the Ojo campus of the Lagos State University (LASU) would not be a big deal. But for him, these are certainly, not ordinary times. The collective sales he has made over the past three weeks from phone calls; recharge card and phone accessories sales, is a far cry from what he normally makes in a day.

The ongoing strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Senior Staff of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), is no doubt, affecting academic activities on campuses; however, its economic implications on campus businesses are also evident.

Businesses groan

At the University of Lagos, Akoka, shop owners say the effect of the strike bites harder by the day and they hope for a quick resolution of the issue.

"It really affects our sales," says Bolaji Abayomi, the manager of DVIC ventures, a provisions store on the campus. "When students were in school, we would make sales of up to N25,000 a day, but now, we don't even sell up to N2,000 a day."

The institution was deserted when NEXT visited, including a popular square among the students called, "Love Garden".

The many cafeterias around the campus were also empty as some of the expectant waiters gazed at the door, overtly nice and urging anyone in; even if he was a tax collector.

Mercy Ugwu had urged NEXT into her empty canteen, Mercy Side Cafeteria, near the institution's Sports Complex, before realizing her gaffe.

"The students have all gone home," she says. "Look at the shop, there's nobody; in fact, I am losing a lot."

Mrs. Ugwu said she could not quantify what the strike has cost her; however, she listed rice and yam as two food items that are fast depleting.

"They are finishing, and I don't have money to buy them," says Mrs. Ugwu. If I should get money from somewhere else to buy them, there is no where I will get the money back with this slow business."

It is not only the food business that is battling to survive, the beauty centre is also trying not to bite the dust.

Omowunmi Iyiade, the manager of Mummy T Hair Salon, at the Main shopping complex, says only a quarter of her average number of customers have been patronising since the start of the strike action.

"But I still come every day," says Mrs. Iyiade. "This is the only business I have."

The shops close down

For Juliana Adedayo who manages the University of Lagos Students Cafeteria, she decided to close down completely until school activities would resume.

"We haven't made any tangible sales this week. Even the small food we cooked today, there's no one to eat it," says Mrs Adedayo.

At the Ojo campus of Lagos State University, the story is not different. The ever bustling business centres are now shadows of their former selves. At the LASU-NASU complex, reduced patronage has forced some business owners to lock up their stalls.

Mr. Ibrahim and Funke Adebayo, a photographer, are weighing their options.

"If I decide to stay at home, I would be idle. But if the strike persists, I may just decide to become idle," says Mr. Ibrahim.

Prayer is the key

The business owners, however, have one thing in common; prayer.

"We are just sitting down here, praying that God will touch the heart of the people concerned," says Mrs. Ugwu. "Because everything is in God's hand."

Mr. Abayomi, while pleading with the Federal Government to resolve the issue says: "I just pray that God should intervene in this matter."

Mr. Ibrahim is also seeking divine intervention on the strike.

"I'm praying powerfully for them to call off the strike," he says.