By Victory Okonjo
MOTOR parks and logistics centres across Asaba witnessed heavy crowds, yesterday, as residents collected parcels from friends, relatives and vendors in other cities ahead of the Christmas celebration.
A visit to several prominent locations on Christmas eve revealed bustling activity, with customers queuing to receive packages ranging from foodstuffs and clothing to electronics and gift items sent from Onitsha, Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and other major cities.
At Two Brothers Logistics, located opposite Summit Junction along the Asaba-Benin Expressway, dozens of customers had gathered by mid-morning to collect parcels.
Mrs Chioma, who came to pick up a package from her sister in Lagos, expressed relief at receiving her items.
“My sister sent some clothes for the children and foodstuff for Christmas. I’ve been checking since yesterday, but they said it would arrive today. Thank God I got it before the holiday,” she said.
The increased activity extended to other locations. At Koka Junction, the atmosphere was equally busy, with motorcycles and tricycles ferrying customers and their packages to various parts of the city, while vendors selling drinks and snacks served the waiting crowd.
However, some customers expressed frustration over delays and difficulty reaching their agents on phone. Mr Emmanuel Chukwu, a civil servant who spent over an hour at Koka Junction waiting to collect a parcel, described the experience as stressful.
“The phone lines are not going through, and when you come here, you have to wait for a long time. It’s December 24th, and people want to go home and prepare for Christmas,” he remarked.
Despite the complaints, most residents appeared understanding of the seasonal rush. Mrs Elizabeth, a staff member at Two Brothers Logistics, noted that December typically sees triple the usual volume of parcels.
“We handle almost three times our normal volume, especially in the days leading up to Christmas. Everyone wants their packages delivered before the holiday, so we sometimes work extra hours to clear the backlog,” she said.
For residents who braved the queues and crowds, the effort proved worthwhile, ensuring that gifts and provisions from loved ones arrived in time for their Christmas celebrations.
