By MAUREEN OJINAKA

Enugu State capital is currently wearing a new look with beautiful and colourful Christmas decorations displayed at its Unity Park, various locations, premises of corporate organisations, schools, shopping malls, among others.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who went round the metropolis on Saturday observed that Enugu has been lit up with various decorations, flowers and Santa Claus effigies at some various roundabouts and other places.

The state government, through the office of the Ministry of Tourism, has also beautified some major streets and roundabouts, including Independence Avenue, Chime Avenue, Ogui, Otigba, government house roundabouts among others.

The ministry also decorated Unity Park with different Christmas trees and other decorations as well as the Naira Triangle on the Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway.

Some residents, who spoke with NAN about their impressions, said the new look is a reflection of the season, when no one would want to be left out.A resident, Mrs Joy Ibe, expressed satisfaction with the decorations, saying that it changed the gloomy mood caused by the hardship faced by the people.

“Enugu is looking clean and beautiful this festive period, especially at nights and everywhere is well illuminated to celebrate the yuletide.

“I will bring my family to the Unity Park that has a lot of interesting things for both children and adults,” she said.

Mrs Jacintha Nweke, a hairstylist at Agbani Road, Enugu, said that the decorations reminded her about her youth days when everyone looked forward to visit places like the zoo, airport, supermarket like Kingsway, Leventis, UTC among others.

A civil servant, Mr.Ndubisi Ugwu, said that the Christmas decorations in the metropolis had changed people’s mood as many now tend to be happy, thereby affording them the opportunity to decorate their offices, houses and shops.

“Christmas is a merrymaking season for Christians all over the world. In Enugu, it has also become a period when people look forward to attending events of different kinds,” Ugwu said.

Another resident of Enugu, Mrs Chioma Ozo, said that in spite of the prevailing economic situation in the country, the decorations had pushed her to start buying her children’s Christmas clothes.

“We all are feeling the economic hardship in the country but in spite of it, seeing how beautiful the state capital is, I have to make my children happy by decorating my house and getting them gifts.

“I will also take them out to recreational parks on Christmas day for them to happily celebrate it,’’ she said.

Mr Gilbert Nwoye, who sells Christmas gifts and decoration items at the Garki Market, told NAN that the decorations around the metropolis moved him to get the items earlier, adding that customers were coming to patronise him as residents were already in Christmas mood.

“The items I sell are really attracting people to come to patronise me due to the season,” he said.

A content creator and influencer, Ifeoma Atuonwu, commended the Enugu State Government for the Christmas decorations saying that it would be an opportunity for influencers to portray Enugu positively to the world.

According to her, this is a very good development for Enugu people as everyone is feeling the vibes of the Yuletide. So I, personally, will create content with the decorations and other activities lined up for the festive season. (NAN)

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