By Ndi Aquaisua Esq.

The cost to acquire a kiosk at this year’s Christmas village in Akwa Ibom State goes for Ninety thousand Naira (N90,000.00) for just a thirty day jamboree which the kiosk owner is expected to recover his capital and also make profit amidst stiff competition. This is against the Fourty five thousand Naira (N45,000.00) which a kiosk went for last year even when we had no COVID-19.

This is coming barely few weeks after the lifting of the ban on COVID-19 lockdown by the state Government. During the lockdown period, lots of businesses suffered losses and some businesses could not survive the hardship caused by the lockdown and were wound up. Akwa Ibomites are loosing their jobs as both individuals and firms face undaunted challenges due to the snowballing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic currently ravaging the economy.

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) defined democracy as Government of the people, by the people, for the people. It means people‘s government and it seeks the people’s consent in decision-making or governance. However, in Akwa Ibom State, the word democracy means something totally different from what we know it to be.

The attention of the State Governor, His Excellency, Deacon Udom Emmanuel is hereby drawn to the exploitative actions of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism led by Hon. Orman Esin which if nothing is done about it, will cause untold hardship on the great people of Akwa Ibom State and will rubbish the DAKAADA philosophy of the Deacon Udom Emmanuel led Adminstration which seeks to ensure that Akwa Ibomites are up and doing. Proprietors of small businesses will find it hard to “DAKAADA” in this year’s Christmas Village.

Instead of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to help boost private businesses by reducing the cost of renting a kiosk at the Akwa Ibom Christmas Village, it is rather trying to use this opportunity to rob and milk some private business proprietors dry in the state by putting the cost of a kiosk at Ninety thousand Naira (N90,000.00) for just a thirty day jamboree at the Akwa Ibom State Christmas Village when the cost of renting a shop at popular markets/streets within the state is not up to Sixty thousand Naira (N60,000.00) per annum.

Though the State Executive Council has approved that the 2020 Christmas festival should hold but with strict observance of the Covid-19 safety protocols, It is noteworthy that most Akwa Ibomites will be scared to come out for an open event like this for fear of contracting COVID-19. This will lead to a low turnout of people and proprietors of small businesses might find it very difficult to recover the capital they injected into the business talk less of making profit. This will no doubt create untold hardship to the great people of Akwa Ibom State.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism is only interested in arm twisting the masses to get the said outrageous sum of Ninety thousand Naira (N90,000.00) and nothing else. Small business proprietors who might succeed in paying the outrageous sum of Ninety thousand Naira (N90,000.00) for a kiosk at the Christmas Village will in turn sell their goods at expensive prices to Akwa Ibomites and tourists that will eventually go there to have fun.

There are certain questions that are begging for answers such as:

(1) Were small business proprietors in Akwa Ibom State consulted before the outrageous sum of Ninety thousand Naira (N90,000.00) was imposed on them by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism?

(2) What are the programs lined up by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to draw patronage in order to promote sales and also help investors recover their capital and make profit as well?

(3) Can the said sum of Ninety thousand Naira (N90,000.00) for a kiosk be allowed to be paid by instalments?

(4) Will the Ministry of Culture and Tourism provide un-interupted power supply to all the small businesses throughout the said thirty days jamboree?

(5) Why would the Ministry of Culture and Tourism charge such an exorbitant amount when the land allocated for this Year’s Christmas Village is owned by the State Government?

(6) Will the investors be guaranteed free and adequate security service throughout the duration of the said event?

(7) How will the outrageous cost of N90,000.00 for a kiosk improve the financial condition of small business proprietors in the Christmas Village within the period.

(8) By January, 2021, will the profit made by the small business proprietors enable them to pay school fees, pay house rent and do all manner of things after deducting the sum of Ninety thousand Naira (N90,000.00) being the cost of renting a kiosk minus other expenses they incurred during the thirty day jamboree?

Akwa Ibomites working in almost all the sectors were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and we call on the Government of Akwa Ibom State under the leadership of His Excellency, Deacon Udom Emmanuel to as a matter of utmost urgency order the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to review the cost of acquiring a kiosk at this year’s Christmas Village which will Kickstart on 1st December, 2020 .

Written by:
Ndi Aquaisua Esq.
Uyo based Legal Practitioner