In this report, AHMED 'LATEEF, after going round some parts of Ilorin, writes on the social activities, which had ebbed down with the ongoing Ramadan fast.

Unlike major Lagos and other cities in some states of the federation that are assuming mega status with attendant social life, Ilorin, the Kwara State capital has long been regarded as a city without major social events.

The age long widespread notion appears to have been validated with the presumptuous belief that Kwara, a North Central State, is a mere civil service state, thus prioritizing social activities, is not in its dictionary, particularly the employees in the public service.

But as change is constant in life, so also its components that make life worth living. In major cities across the country, social life, despite being perceived as secondary, is not joked with.

Those who relish it, after tiresome daily activities in their respective places of work, retire to designated areas or spots to cool off the hectic times they have had at work during the day time. These places can either be clubs, pubs, guest houses and some other known playing grounds.

For these cities, the night is usually full of social life, therefore, there is no dull moment. From one spot to another, it is always bubbling. Most time in some of the clubs, what welcomes those who patronize them is booming sound of musics of hip-hop, especially of local and international on one hand while on the other hand, some people who had arrived earlier, might be seen cooling off and sipping beverages of all kinds.

Because of this social life activities, people in the affected major cities have got acclimatized, and they have become known with the activities no matter the perspective in which some people look at it.

In Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, the age long belief that it used to be sleepy has since been dismissed. There are strategic locations within the city that are known with social life activities, which were hitherto strange to the ancient town.

From Tanke to GRA, Flower Garden, Ahmadu Bello Way, Offa Road, Iloffa Road, Agba-Dam and Pipeline Areas, all in Ilorin, they are usually full of social life at its peak. A drive to these places, especially in the night would attest to the fact that the city is fast approaching a mega status in the sense of it.

A first time visitor to these spots, with age long notion of Ilorin as a sleepy city would be marveled with what his or her eyes might be confronted with.

For instance, in some of these places, there used to be stationed musical bands or Demo Jingles (DJs), who supply music of different kinds for the absolute pleasure of the patrons. While intermittently sipping their drinks, they are also being entertained with musics to complement the relaxation. That is the status that Ilorin has assumed in recent times.

What is considered to be utmost pleasure is also found in some of these places. While drink is sipped and music is blared, there is presence of call girls, who dressed in tempting and captivating manner. While some might sit comfortably cooling off with drink in anticipation of who would approach them for business (short time and till dawn), others might be pacing up and down displaying their natural endowment and while some would be beckoning on people passing around for business of the day.

All these combined are encapsulated in the social life activities of the city of Ilorin.

However, since the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan, activities in some of the identified spots for social life have been at lowest ebb.

The usual presence of patrons in pubs and relaxation spots had reduced drastically with operators of the places lamenting the situation. Major pubs have been deserted, perhaps in the spirit of the holy period.

A particular club house at Flower Garden, which played host to a lot of people had since been recording low turnout. Driving along the area, several cars that are usually parked by the roadside had disappeared.

One of the security guards at the club house told our correspondent that patronage at the club has significantly reduced.

The guard, who sought to remain anonymous, specifically said the turnout has been abysmally poor prior to the commencement of the Ramadan fast.

"My brother, as you can see for yourself, do you see many people here? Of course, no. It has never been like this. In the night, you see people parking exotic cars outside when the parking lot within the premises of the club is full.

"At least in Ilorin here, the name of this club is widely known among the youths, who patronize here for relaxation sake. But it is hoped that activities will pick up soon. As it is now, that is the level that we are and that is all I can tell you. May be some other time, when you come, you will see things for yourself again", he said.

In the same vein, a manager of a guest house along Pipeline Area, Mr Taiye Oluwanishola, expressed concern that the patronage in the past two weeks has not been encouraging.

"It is as if people don't want to drink beer again. In the last two weeks, the patronage of people has subsided unlike before now that this place used to be beehive of activities. Although I understand the circumstance we found ourselves as usual".

Similarly, the hustling and bustling at the NUJ Press Centre, Offa Road, GRA, Ilorin has ebbed down. The usual surge in the number of people who patronize the bar of a guest house within the facility, has practically reduced.

The development might not be unconnected with the ongoing fasting period, which forbids all those things considered forbidden.

Not only pubs are affected, some spots known to be confluence of call girls have been seriously affected as customers have ceased turning up for their usual insatiable quest for pleasure.

A particular spot along Ahmadu Bello Way appears to be a major economic hub for the sex workers, who usually deck in irresistible clothing materials.

Some of them, whom our correspondent approached on their business in the last two weeks, lamented that the patronage has been very low.

One of them, who mistook our correspondent for a customer, said "my customer, its been awhile o. Wetin you bring come? Se, make I enter? Na which one you wan do tonight? Se, na short time or till tomorrow morning?

It was to her dismay when this correspondent politely said, "I'm not really here for that business. I just want to know how your business is faring in the last two weeks or thereabouts.

And she simply replied that the business has not been very smooth because of low patronage.