Prices of food commodities have continued rising despite low patronage from customers, with just a day to the annual Eid-el-Kabir celebration by Muslims.
Speaking with the ICIR, Sahid-Sahid, a vegetable trader at Wuse Market, attributed the high prices of goods to the impending Sallah celebration, noting that certain goods that used to sell at cheaper rates had become more expensive.
“We dey buy a basket of tomatoes before for ₦8,000 but now e don reach ₦11,000. Things don cost,” Sahid said.
Also speaking, Aliyu Alidawudah, a cloth trader at the same market, lamented the low rate of patronage, which he attributed to the coming celebration.
“Business is going normal, but not like before,” he said. “Most people have travelled and some don’t want to enter the market because of the rush.”
He also said that most people already got the things they needed for the celebration way earlier in the month, in anticipation of a possible increase in the prices of commodities.
“Unfortunately the prices of things have skyrocketed considering the rate of dollar,” said Al-Amin, a trader at the Abuja GSM village.
“There is really no difference in the prices of commodities between this year and the previous Salah celebration because I bought two rams for ₦80,000 — almost same as last year.”
Adamo, a butcher in the market, blamed the low rate of patronage on the state of the economy, saying sales were a lot better before now.
“As the country is now, everything is hard; people have not been coming as they used to in the past,” he said.
“Before, even people who were travelling came to buy meat; this place was always filled up. But this time around, it is different.”
He further said that the price at which butchers purchased beef had become higher, although that of mutton remained the same.
While others lamented the low rate of consumer patronage, it is actually a period of boom for yam sellers, who applauded the market situation as they have been recording speedy sales.
“I came with about 30 tubers and I have just few remaining,” one told the ICIR. “I’m done for today, so I’m going home.”
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Great post. Loved it.
This is a truism, because over here in Lagos my suburbs is usually filled with muslim brethrens in different canopies celebrating with both family and friends, but now one can barely see any canopy set up for the “usual”. I attribute it to the cost of things and the state of the nations economy.