A lady residing in Calabar has sparked online conversation after sharing her experience of the unusually quiet streets she encountered at 9:00 AM. Expecting a bustling city scene, the woman was taken aback by the fact that most shops and businesses were still closed, prompting her to question the local morning routines and work habits in Calabar.
Recording and Sharing the Quiet Streets
The woman, identified on social media as @giftty000, captured the scene on her phone and uploaded the video to her TikTok account. She documented the nearly empty streets, highlighting the lack of activity compared to what she had anticipated at that hour.
In the caption accompanying the video, she wrote: “Is it everywhere or it’s only here that shops don’t open till prolly past 9-10?” Her observation resonated with viewers, many of whom shared their own experiences and drew comparisons to morning routines in their respective cities.
The video quickly gained traction, amassing nearly 200,000 views within hours. The clip sparked a flurry of comments as social media users began debating whether Calabar’s relaxed morning pace is typical of the city or unusual compared to other urban areas in Nigeria and beyond.
Reactions from Netizens
The post drew diverse reactions from users across Nigeria and beyond. Some were surprised at the late opening times, while others recounted similar experiences in their own cities.
Knownsokeys 🇳🇬 ✪ remarked: “Same thing with ASABA SHOP OWNERS. They barely open till 9/10am. Infact some will rent a shop and won’t open till it expires and they still renew the rent even without using the shop!!! I don’t know what could be the cause.”
UJU ECHE shared: “4am all shops don open for Onitsha…. Omo I love Onitsha in terms of business.”
marvel commented: “Worst part, is if they are about to open and you start hurrying them, they will start shouting at you that if you can’t wait you should go.”
Jessy💕 added: “3:am person dey sell hot buns inside Lagos traffic.”
glambypreccy said: “Have u been to Abakaliki, 11 am market never open. I start to de cry cause i have exam by 1 and i need to go back to Ikwo😂😂 anyways that was 3yrs ago.”
The comments section became a lively forum for users to share experiences about early morning commerce, punctuality, and how business hours vary from city to city. Many viewers found humor in the situation, while others expressed genuine surprise at Calabar’s seemingly late start to the day.
Viral Video on TikTok
The original TikTok video by @giftty000 features the quiet Calabar streets, showing closed shops, empty streets, and minimal movement. The caption read: “Is it everywhere or it’s only side that shops don’t open till prolly past 9-10😭💔”.
The clip used the soundtrack “Calabar Love (From ‘Eno, My Calabar Love’) – Stanley Okorie,” which added a lighthearted tone to the video while emphasizing the city’s relaxed morning ambiance. The post has continued to gain views and shares, further amplifying discussions about early morning business activity in Nigerian cities and how it compares across regions.
@giftty000Is it everywhere or it’s only side that shops don’t open till prolly past 9-10😭💔
♬ Calabar Love (From ‘Eno, My Calabar Love’) – Stanley Okorie