Fun seekers in Bauchi metropolis have expressed concern over lack of recreational facilities, which deprived them of the benefit of leisure during festivities in the area.
Some of the residents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Bauchi, said that the trend had negatively affected their state of minds.
They expressed displeasure over lack of adequate facilities at the available mini-parks in the area.
Abubakar Sa’id, a resident, said that the situation had forced him and his family to travel out of Bauchi town to the Yankari Game Reserve in Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state, for relaxation.
“We tried to visit the little mini-parks we know, but there were no adequate facilities in those places.
“When I noticed the level of disappointment in my children, we had to travel to Yankari Game Reserve, to access more satisfying facility,” he said.
Another fun seeker, Ismael Raji, stated that he did not waste time to take his family to Jos, in Plateau, to access well-equipped facilities for relaxation and attain maximum satisfaction during festivities.
In his contribution, Lawan Baba noted that he celebrated the Eid-el-Fitr indoors with his children, due to the lack of standard recreational facilities in the metropolis.
He, however, advocated for Public Private Sector participation (PPP), to encourage the development of befitting amusement parks in the state.
According to Baba, recreation is important for all ages, adding that it is especially crucial during the children’s formative years.
“Socialisation opportunities through recreation are needed to support their social-emotional maturity into healthy adulthood.
“However, I urge the government and wealthy individuals to establish such recreational centres, to give the children a sense of belonging,’’ he said.
Also commenting, Mr Lawal Yaya, decried the poor state of facilities at the available recreational parks in the area.
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He alleged that most of the facilities were obsolete and should be upgraded, to meet the needs of the growing population of the area.
“It will be a great joy if the state government can build a centre, where our children can satisfy their wants during festive periods like Sallah, Easter and Christmas,” Yaya stated. (NAN)