Rayfield, Jos: Where nightlife thrives despite insecurity

After a series of crises that rocked Jos, the Plateau State capital, most places are no longer as interesting as they used to be. But Rayfield seems to be the new face of the city as many social events still take place there and residents relate freely, unlike other parts of the town. Daily Trust Saturday visited the community and saw features that make it unique.

The Rayfield area of Jos, the Plateau State capital, has continued to witness a beehive of activities despite the crisis that has rocked the once peaceful town since 2001, depriving the people of nightlife, as well as other restrictions.

The old Government House and other vital institutions and business organisations are located in Rayfield.

Although it is regarded as a place for the privileged, as accommodation and other things are expensive there, as well as the imposing lifestyle of those who live there, the less privileged still find their way there, day and night, as the environment provides them with the splendour, glamour and relaxation they always need. It is generally referred to as a Government Reserved Area (GRA).

It is pertinent to note that tricycles and buses, which are the most popular means of transportation in the town, have restrictions and time limit in Rayfield, giving the area a serene atmosphere of sorts.

At Rayfied, many social events take place, and these are sources of attraction for fun seekers.

Although kidnapping and other crimes happen in this place, residents and others are not discouraged from engaging in nightlife.

• Nigerians celebrate peaceful, low-key Christmas amid COVID-19
• How prominent residents fled Kankara before attack

The Rayfield Resort is one special place where fun seekers go for relaxation.

It has a theatre for life performances, children’s recreation park, water fountain for live fish, a boating anchor point located at the bank of a lake, a restaurant and a shopping centre.

There is also a grill bar, snacks bar, gift shop, ice cream bar, events ground, conference sections, restaurant and a children section.

Other big hotels that provide relaxation and leisure in Rayfield include Three Angels, Steffan Hotel and Suites, Ellim Top Suites, etc. Many big functions take place in the many hotels at Rayfield.

There is also a golf club that attracts rich and notable men and women from all over the city.

As the golfers play and interact, they also relax to different kinds of drinks.

They have parties from time to time and organise competitions, which also attract visitors from all nooks and crannies of the state and beyond.

Again, the Jos Business School, NTA college, Plateau Radio and Television (PRTV), beautiful event centres, mouth-watering restaurants/fish and suya spots, beautiful houses make Rayfied unique.

Because of its unique atmosphere, peaceful and clean environment as most of the streets are tarred, many government functionaries, politicians and political appointees, captains of industries, big business owners, among other notable people, reside in Rayfield.

This is evident in the number of expensive cars usually seen in the streets. Constant streetlights also make the place beautiful at night.

Even places of worships in this area are known to attract more eminent people than could be found in other parts of Jos.

The yearly Christmas carol hosted by the PRTV is beauty to behold.

A resident of the area, Jane Raymond, said one of the things that make Rayfied unique is steady electricity supply, which also makes businesses thrive.

She said although houses are expensive in this place, it was still better for big and serious business people to live there because of abundant opportunities and good infrastructure.

Ezekiel Yusuf said it has been difficult for him to get a shop at Rayfield to do business.

He lamented that some of the shops that were paid for are still empty, yet those who acquired them would not give them out to people like him who are ready to put them to economic use.

Yusuf said he had decided to look for another location for his business since he could not secure a place at Rayfield.

Aisha Abdul, who came for a function at Mee’s Palace, told our correspondent that Rayfield was the best place to live in Jos due to its lively nature.

She also said it was a place anybody could live, irrespective of tribe or religion.

This is unlike other parts of Jos, where people reside according to ethno-religious divisions.

Interestingly also, most violent crises that occurred in Jos hardly spread to Rayfield.

Such attacks and counterattacks often occur in slums.

A presenter at Tin City FM, located behind the old Government House, Kaskida Yilyok, said the good thing about Rayfield is that the rich people who live there easily attracted social amenities to the area, which anyone privileged to live there can enjoy.

Yilyok said his organisation had a good working relationship with the community, and that from time to time, they engage in corporate social responsibility to promote it.

However, a resident of Kufang, also in Jos, Isaac Bulus, said he was contented with life in the community, adding that the area is lively and simple.

According to him, most social life at Rayfield is at night, and if one is not mobile, it would be impossible to go there.

He said he could as well enjoy himself at night in Kufang after work if he wished.

Rayfield is to Jos, what Victoria Island or Lekki is to Lagos, Maitama or Asokoro to Abuja or Barnawa in Kaduna.

Speaking on the cost of accommodation in Rayfied, a house agent in Jos told our correspondent that whenever he was lucky to manage a house in that area, he would make more money in terms of commission than he would on several houses put together in most parts of the state capital.

He said there’s a lot of competition among agents in the state over properties at Rayfield because of its benefits.

Among notable Nigerians who have houses at Rayfield are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, and the late Major-General Domkat Bali.

Undoubtedly, Rayfield is a place to visit.

More so, it has provided employment opportunities for youths who come there to work in hotels, recreational centres, business outfits and other places.