By; IBRAHIM ADAMU, Kaduna
Traders have expressed dismay over poor patronage from buyers as effects of subsidy removal by the present administration continues to hit hard on Nigerians, particularly the low-income earners.
A cross section of traders interviewed by our corespondents, especially those not in the business of food items, have said that the level of patronage from buyers has drastically dropped because, according to them, people prefer to spend more on essential edible items than luxury and non-essential materials.
A once bubbling line in the heart of Central Market, Kaduna, mostly occupied by dealers and traders in cosmetic and beauty materials has now suddenly become a shadow of itself as shop owners were noticed by our reporter, sleeping or pressing their mobile phones, a development a shop owner who simply identified herself as Mama Chika attributed to hike in prices of virtually every household item, affecting the purchasing power of individuals.
“People now prioritize their needs, according to the size of their purses, due to astronomical rise in prices of essentials and dwindling earnings of workers, making it difficult for most average families to maintain their usual life routines.
“Many have cut down on their expenditures, spending mostly on basic needs such as food, medicine and laundry items,” she observed.
When spoken to, a trader in female beauty articles, Mr. Bright White simply shrugged his right shoulder, asking our reporter to direct his questions to the government which he accused of being insensitive to the plight of the masses whom he noted, queued up under the sun to elect the present crop of political leaders.
“They have now turned our tormentors instead of saviours of the masses, despite promising us to make life easy and worthwhile.
“You can see for yourself how deserted the once ever busy Central Market of those days where shop owners and other traders were kept busy all through the day.
“The current situation is not funny at all as more and more of our colleagues in business are fast relocating to other ventures,” Mr. White said.
Our correspondent on his tour of the market, crossed over to the section of dealers in grains, beef, fruits and vegetables, where the story of poor patronage was similar to places visited earlier.
Though, the narrative here was slightly different as buyers and sellers were seen locked in sporadic transactions.
A dealer in millet, maize and beans, Alhaji Musa Zaria informed our reporter that the place used to be a beehive of activities as buyers had to sit down and wait for their turns to be attended to, adding that all that has now changed.
He blamed the sad development on hike in cost of transportation which he noted had driven upward the prices of edible food in the market.
Commenting further, Alhaji Zaria called on the present administration to be sensitive to the plight of the masses whom he said had to cut down their daily intake of meals due to the present economic hardship.
“Our customers have drastically reduced because they can’t afford to buy as they used to.
“Government should realize that our economy is oil-driven – any adjustments in pump price would instantly affect every consumer product, goods and services.
“Many who were buying grains in bags are now buying in piecemeal- these are family men with an average of 10 members in their households.
“Something needs to be urgently done to provide succour to the poor majority of whom have lost hope in the leadership of the country,” he stated.
A buyer who identified herself as Uwa Mai Waina who said she came to buy maize, a primary material for making local food mostly popular in the Northern part of the country and patronized by Hausa speaking people.
The woman in her fifties recalled with nostalgia good days a measure of maize was sold at 300 Naira which she noted had steadily climbed up and now being sold for 1,400 Naira.
She expressed disappoinment in elected representatives of the people whom she described as selfish and self-centered who only paid attention to their needs and those of their families while the poor who elected them wallowed in abject penury and perpetual poverty.
“Where is equity, fairness and equality which should be basic ingredients of democracy in the whole of these?” She lamented.
