Lagos catering business struggles amid pandemic

Nigeria's event catering industry has been one of the worst affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Usman Abimbola runs catering service Delicacies Plus in Lagos, the largest city in the African nation.

He says his business has been hit hard by the restrictions on gatherings, put in place to combat the spread of the virus.

Abimbola explains his industry strives on numbers, not just of people, but of the number of events happening around the country.

From marriages to funerals, Nigerians are known for throwing grandiose parties called "Owambe".

But the pandemic has put a stop to these extravagant celebrations.

The dramatic changes and uncertainty of doing business post COVID-19 is what frightens many small business owners.

Especially those like Usman who don't have fallback funding or government assistance to get out of debt post-pandemic.

"We have already (got) bank loans... and coping with it now it is a bit challenging," he says.

Usman worries he may need to let go of more employees if the situation does not improve soon.

"I pray that things come to normality in due time," he says.