A TikTok user known as @giftty000 has sparked widespread discussion online after sharing her surprising discovery about business operations in Calabar, Cross River State.
The Morning Revelation That Went Viral
The young woman stepped out at 9:00 am expecting to find bustling commercial activity, but instead encountered something completely different. She documented her experience in a video that has since garnered significant attention across social media platforms.
In her TikTok post, which has accumulated over 92,000 views according to reports from November 14, 2025, she expressed amazement at finding that most shops in Calabar remain closed until between 9:00 am and 10:00 am.
Her caption captured the essence of her bewilderment: "Is it everywhere or it's only side that shops don't open till prolly past 9-10."
Nigerians Weigh In With Diverse Experiences
The video triggered an immediate response from Nigerians across different cities, highlighting the contrasting work cultures and business hours throughout the country.
One user named Jessy? highlighted the extreme difference in Lagos: "3:am person dey sell hot buns inside Lagos traffic."
Another comment from Knownsokeys confirmed similar patterns in Asaba: "Same thing with ASABA SHOP OWNERS. They barely open till 9/10am." The user expressed confusion about shop owners who pay rent without utilizing their spaces regularly.
The contrast became even more striking when UJU ECHE described the early morning hustle in Onitsha: "4am all shops don open for Onitsha…. Omo I love Onitsha in terms of business."
Regional Business Culture Differences Exposed
The discussion revealed significant variations in business operations across Nigerian cities. While commercial centers like Onitsha and Lagos show early morning activity, other regions like Calabar, Asaba, and Abakaliki appear to follow different schedules.
User glambypreccy shared her experience in Abakaliki: "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??"
Mama B added similar observations about Uyo: "I visited uyo and came out around 9am and shops were closed Omo these people are so unbothered."
The viral video has opened up conversations about regional work ethics, business cultures, and what constitutes normal operating hours across different parts of Nigeria, revealing that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to commerce in the diverse nation.
